Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Namaska has pleaded with bandits and other criminal elements to stop their activities in order to enable farmers to go to their farms as the 2021 farming season has begun.
The Emir observed that the present food scarcity being experienced in Nigeria was occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown and insecurity in 2020. He warned that if the insecurity continues and farmers are not allowed to go to their farms, the food situation in the country will be worsened.
The Emir, who was represented by the Niger State Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Shehu Galadima stated this during the Third Niger Wet Season Agricultural Inputs and Equipment Fair in Minna, the state capital.
He said: “Bandits, please allow us to farm. We need food, you also need food. If we farm, there will be food…Please, allow us to farm,” he appealed.
The Emir further called on the government to recruit more agro-rangers who will safeguard the farmers when they go to the farm.