Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Namaska has pleaded with bandits to cease their activities for farmers to carry out the 2021 farming season in peace.
Pointing out that there is food scarcity because the 2020 farming season was affected by COVID-19 and insecurity, the monarch stated that the current situation might be worsened if farmers are not allowed to go back to their farms.
The Emir who was represented by the Niger State Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Shehu Galadima at the Third Niger Wet Season Agricultural Inputs and Equipment Fair in Minna, the state capital, also asked government to recruit more agro-rangers who will safeguard the farmers when they go to the farm.
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.”
Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Zakari Haliru Jikantoro on his own part assured farmers that the state government is doing its best to ensure the safety of every citizen in the state.
Jikantoro also said the tempo of banditry in the state has reduced because of the security strategies the government has deployed in recent times.
He said
“You would notice that the government has put in place measures to ensure that the farmers will not be affected by this banditry or insecurity.”
