‘Our leaders should stop playing politics with our security’

“We have almost lost our belief in this country. Our hope for survival is getting dimmer on a daily basis as we no more have access to most of our farmlands, which have been abandoned due to insecurity.”

This was the lamentation of a Sokoto-based farmer, Malam Abubakar Lawali, over the continuing insecurity in the North. He told Saturday Tribune in an interview that the situation required “urgent intervention from our leaders,” given the consequences which have manifested in sustained rise in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.

He said many people, especially the downtrodden, have endured for long with no sign of respite as things stand in the country.

“Many of our children are living in IDP camps across the state begging to eat. This is so sad. We want an end to this by our leaders.

“We appeal to our leaders to stop playing politics with our security. Enough is enough. If they cannot help us, they should let us bear arms and defend ourselves,”  Lawali said.

Saturday Tribune investigation showed that the activities of terrorists have rendered 70 per cent of farms inoperative in the eastern flank of Sokoto State. Farmers in Sabon Birni, Isa, Goronyo, Rabah, Gada, Wurno, Illela,l and Gwadabawa local government areas are doing cultivation at the mercy of bandits and terrorists.

The aforementioned areas form the base of Bello Turji, the kingpin coordinating the activities of the bandits.

In the past six months, there has been an escalation of activities of these bandits following their migration from Zamfara and Katsina states. They have settled largely in Sabon Birni, Isa and Goronyo forest areas, close to Shinkafi.

“The bandits attack farmers and travellers on a daily basis, killing, kidnapping, maiming, and imposing taxes and levies, and preventing farmers from undertaking farming activities on a regular basis.

“The major road from Sokoto to Sabon Birni and Isa roads have now become death traps where killings and abductions occur on a daily basis,” a source said.

The source named Gatawa, Tarah, Gidan Idi, Nasarawa, Zangon Malan, Kalgo and Burkusuma as the epicenters of banditry in Sabon Birni.

Other communities where the bandits thrive, the source said, are Ajinge, Teke, Tashar Bagaruwa, Rambadawa, Dan Kware and Dantasakko.

The Sokoto State state coordinator of a non-governmental organisation, Movement for Social Justice for Peace and Good Governance, Alhaji Basharu Altine Guyawa, said about 70 percent of farmers might not be able to farm this year in the state unless drastic measures are taken to tackle the security challenges.

“If the tempo of terrorist attacks is allowed to continue unchecked within the technically allowed time of planting and replanting, there is the likelihood of missing out on the production of millet valued at N365.75 billion. This could be reduced by half with timely intervention.

“A preliminary survey conducted by concerned citizens revealed that farmers who grow millet, sorghum, watermelon, cowpeas, cabbage, onion and garlic in commercial quantities are the worst hit.

“At least,1,032,900 hectares of land have been affected in five local government areas of the state. These include Sabon Birni with 235,400 hectares, Isa local government with 215,800 hectares and Goronyo with 170,400 hectares.

“The other two are Wurno Local Government with 168,500 hectares and Rabah Local Government with 243,000 hectares, according to a source at the Sokoto State Ministry of Lands and Housing,” Alhaji Guyawa told Saturday Tribune.

A source at the Ministry of Agriculture disclosed that 70 percent of the land which stands at 723,000 hectares could be cultivated. An average of 433,818 hectares is cultivated annually.

Alhaji Guyawa added: “The average yield of millet is about 1.2 tonnes per hectare. This gives 520,581.6 tonnes. One tonne gives, on average, 13 bags of millet or 6,767,560 bags. The current market prices range between N85,000 to N105,000 per bag.

“Where a bag is sold for N95,000, this amounts to N642,918,200,000 or M642.918 billion in gross terms.

“About 200 other villages affected, are routinely attacked in broad daylight despite the presence of security agencies in the community.

“In Isa, Turba, Kamarawa, Bafarawa and Tozai, more than half of all the villages around them are similarly being attacked on a daily basis.

“Recently, Bello Turji and his commanders issued a decree that anyone seen on his farm be shot dead, while those that desire to farm were levied outrageous sums beyond their capacity to pay.

“With this scenario, most of the villages have been deserted and the people are taking refuge in Isa and Sabon Birni, Niger Republic as well as Sokoto and other towns and communities.

“Some sleep in the bushes and return home in the morning only to be attacked in the early afternoon or evening.

“Consequently, farming activities have been at the lowest ebb in most parts of the major towns and communities. We are in the weeding season now but most farmers are yet to plant for lack of seeds and fear of being killed, maimed or abducted.

“It was established through the survey by the concerned citizen that more than 70 percent of the farmers may not be able to farm at all this year.

“The farmers who principally grow millet, sorghum, watermelon, cowpeas, cabbage, onion, and garlic in commercial quantities can no longer access their farmland.”

Speaking on the state government’s efforts to tackle the menace, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters to the Governor, Colonel Ahmed Usman (rtd), said, the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration was doing everything to ensure that farmers return to their farmlands.

He said, “The government is aware of the situation and we are currently working on it to ensure all our farmers are able to farm on their land without any issues.

“As I am talking to you now, we are in Illela, one of the affected local governments in the state, security-wise, together with my team. We are engaging with the locals and security agents and I can tell you some of the farmers are currently moving back to farm.

“Just last week, a committee was set up by the state government on same issue of insecurity in the state. You know the issue of security is not what we can be making public all the time. It is not like any other issues that can be discussed openly like that.

“All I can tell you is that the state government is working round the clock to bring an end to the issue of insecurity in the state and help our farmers to return to the farm as soon as possible.”

On its part, the state police command said it was working to ensure that peace returned to every part of the state.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Ahmed Rufai, said the command under the supervision of CP Hayatu Kaigama, was working towards improving the security situation in the state.

“The issue of banditry is not a new issue and we are not relenting in tackling it. It is a known fact that the axis you are talking about is the food basket of the state.

“It is compulsory for us to ensure peace returns to the place. We will do our best to ensure farmers are able to access their farms,” Rufai said.

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