In Plateau State, rising insecurity is crippling agriculture, destroying businesses and deepening uncertainty among residents, as farmers and traders recount heavy losses from persistent violence across rural communities.
John Wuyep, chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Plateau State chapter, said the wave of violence has left farmers trapped in fear and unable to carry out their activities freely. “The insecurity in the country seems endless. Just when you think it might stop, another incident happens somewhere,” he said.
Wuyep in a telephone chat with BusinessDay, recently explained that fear has now become part of daily farming life, particularly in volatile areas such as Bokkos and surrounding communities.
“The insecurity is certainly affecting our members. Many farmers in areas like Bokkos and other regions are unable to go to their farms alone. They now have to go along with agro-rangers for safety,” he added.
According to him, the worsening security situation has sharply reduced productivity across farming communities, compounding already difficult agricultural conditions. He warned that many farmers are recording losses and struggling to sustain operations amid growing uncertainty.
“This situation has definitely impacted productivity. Farmers are losing out, though when properly guided, there is at least some encouragement. The losses for our members are significant, not only because of insecurity but also due to climate change. For example, last year’s rainfall pattern was very poor, especially in the southern parts,” he said.
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The AFAN chairman cautioned that the long-term implications could stretch beyond Plateau State, threatening food supply chains nationwide.
“When farmers cannot farm safely and traders cannot store produce securely it can collapse businesses that has to do with farm produce,” he said, urging urgent action to restore security and rebuild confidence.
For produce traders, the violence has translated into devastating financial losses.
Ruth Manu, a trader, said she lost her warehouse during one of the attacks and was forced to relocate.
“My warehouse was burnt down because of insecurity, and I had to relocate from Plateau. Everything I built for years disappeared in one night,” she said.
Musa Yusuf, a grain merchant, shared a similar ordeal, explaining that insecurity forced him to abandon his investments in the state. “Our warehouse was burnt during an attack and we had to move away from Plateau to survive. We are trying to rebuild from scratch,” he said.
Amid mounting concerns, the Nigerian Army has intensified efforts to restore peace following the approval for the immediate deployment of special forces by Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff. The move comes as authorities seek to confront renewed banditry and violent attacks troubling communities.
Chinonso Oteh, Captain and Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, said elite troops from the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion have arrived in Jos to reinforce ongoing operations.
He described the deployment as a decisive step to strengthen efforts to neutralise criminal elements and stabilise the state.
