Insecurity threatening dry season farming in Taraba – Residents lament

Dry season farmers in Taraba State are expressing concern over escalating insecurity in various parts of the state.

The farmers, who are of the view that the insecurity will impact negatively on them, urged swift action from the state government and security forces.

Some of them told DAILY POST that the rate of killings and kidnappings in various parts of the state was alarming.

They identified Lau, Ardo-Kola, Bali, Karim-Lamido and Yorro as the most affected council areas.

A farmer, Yahaya Mafindi and his counterpart, Abdullahi Bello warned that banditry could disrupt vital farming activities across Taraba.

Sharing a worrisome account of the situation, Saidu Dauda, a farmer in Donada village of Lau Council Area, revealed that two villagers were killed, while eight others were abducted in Kunini village just last week.

Hajiya Laraba Aminu Abdul, Chairperson of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Taraba State, echoed the same concern during the launch of the distribution of farm inputs for the 2023/2024 dry season farming in Jalingo.

Abdul emphasised that failing to curb insecurity would discourage many from participating in dry season farming.

Also, the senator representing Taraba South, David Jimkuta, recently raised alarm over a possible famine in the state and the country at large due to the rate of killing of farmers.

Meanwhile, other residents of Taraba have called on the government to address the security challenges bedevilling all parts of the state.

“Earnestly, all I am in dire need of is for the government to secure our lives and property from armed bandits and kidnappers in 2024,” Adamu Saleh, a retired police Sergeant, told DAILY POST.

On his part, Ndafru Godwin, who lamented the high cost of living in the state and in other parts of the country, called for a drastic reduction in the prices of goods and services.