Victoria
In a renewed effort to tackle the rising insecurity affecting farmers, the Federal Government has announced plans to recruit additional agro rangers to protect farmlands and ensure food security across Nigeria.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during the 5th edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding farmers from violent attacks by armed groups.
Recent incidents have underscored the urgency of this initiative. In January, at least 40 farmers were killed in Borno State during an attack by gunmen, while five others lost their lives in Ondo State’s Akure North Local Government Area on Wednesday, reportedly at the hands of suspected herdsmen. The latter incident sparked protests from affected communities, highlighting the growing tension in rural areas.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo stated that in the past year, 10,000 officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had been trained as agro rangers to enhance security in agricultural regions. Additionally, President Bola Tinubu recently approved the recruitment of another 10,000 NSCDC officers to strengthen the initiative further.
While acknowledging persistent security challenges, the minister expressed confidence in the government’s ongoing efforts to curb attacks on farmers and protect the country’s food production system.
He assured Nigerians that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to improving internal security and will continue prioritizing measures to safeguard lives and property.
“The simple truth is that we are making serious progress as a country in terms of internal security solutions. In the last year, we have trained 10,000 NSCDC officials to protect our farmlands as agro rangers.
“More will still be done because we have a President who understands that his first responsibility is the protection of lives and properties.” Tunji-Ojo said.
With the planned expansion of the agro ranger force, the government aims to create a safer environment for agricultural activities, thereby strengthening food security and boosting rural economies.
