Rice farmers in Kaduna lament more concerning security concerns
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The security challenges in Kaduna State have drawn the attention of farmers who are members of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria.
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The state’s increasing insecurity, they claimed, prevented them from accessing their farms.
Alhaji Mohammed Numbu, the chairman of the association’s Kaduna chapter, told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the risk of bandit attacks had made it necessary for members to remain at home due to security concerns.
He also revealed that one of their members was kidnapped by bandits not too long ago, adding that “his whereabouts are unknown up to this point.”
He stated, “In fact, it’s unfortunate that the security challenges in the state are getting more alarming by the day. We had prayed to God that insecurity fizzled out, but it has come again in full force.
“It has instilled fears in farmers such that they can no longer venture into their farms.
“Most of our members who are about 72,000 cannot go to farm now.
“Some of us cannot sleep with our two eyes closed because these bandits are on the prowl.
“They (bandits) just go to villages and pick people at will now. Nobody knows who’s next after the bandits attack a particular village.
“One of our members was kidnapped around 1 pm yesterday in Kaura, and we are yet to hear about him.”
As a result, the head of RIFAN made a plea to President Bola Tinubu to take all reasonable steps to improve the security situation, both in the state and nationally.
He claims that state governors are unable to address the security issues facing their respective states on their own.
With this he said, “We are calling on the Nigerian government of His Excellency, President, Bola Tinubu, to come to our rescue. The situation is beyond the control of the state government.
“The state governors are doing their best, but the situation is beyond their control.”
“We farmers are appealing that the government should come to our aides. There is hunger in this country whether we like it or not. Palliatives alone cannot solve the problem of this country.”
