Nigeria’s agricultural sector, long regarded as the backbone of rural livelihoods and a major contributor to national food supply, has increasingly become a battlefield. Over the past few years, farmers across the country have faced mounting threats ranging from banditry and insurgency to kidnapping & violent attacks on farmlands. These security challenges have not only endangered lives but also threatened Nigeria’s food security and economic stability.
As I scanned this morning news in search of an issue to reflect on, I came across a Sunday PUNCH interview on this subject, which inspired me to lend my voice to the discussion.
Against this troubling backdrop, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has announced plans to deploy no fewer than 11,000 Agro-Rangers operatives nationwide to strengthen protection for farmers ahead of the 2026 farming season. The move, though long overdue, signals a renewed attempt by authorities to restore confidence among rural farmers and protect the nation’s agricultural backbone.
A Response to a Troubling Pattern of Violence
The decision to deploy thousands of Agro-Rangers follows a wave of deadly attacks that plagued farming communities throughout 2025. From the North-East to the Middle Belt, farmers have increasingly become targets of violent groups, forcing many to abandon their fields and disrupting Nigeria’s food supply chain.
In January 2025, tragedy struck in Dumba near Lake Chad when at least 40 farmers were reportedly killed by insurgents linked to Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram while working on their farms. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of farmers operating in conflict-prone regions.
The violence did not end there. On October 1, bandits abducted three farmers from Bethel Farm in Ejiba, located in Kogi State. Just weeks later, the crisis escalated further in multiple states.
On November 2, a farmer was killed in Kubon village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. Between November 3 and 4, no fewer than 10 farmers, including a pastor, were killed while working on their fields in Ohimini, Benue State—a region often described as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
Similarly troubling incidents followed across the country. On November 20, four rice farmers were abducted during harvest in Bokungi, Kwara State. Three days later, 13 young female farmers aged between 15 and 20 were kidnapped by insurgents in Borno State.
On November 26, another 10 farmers were abducted while harvesting rice in Shiroro, Niger State. The violence continued into December when 20 onion farmers were kidnapped in Konduga, again in Borno State, just days after eight others had been taken from the same area.
These incidents collectively paint a grim picture: our farmers are increasingly forced to cultivate their fields under the shadow of violence.
The Role of Agro-Rangers
In response to these recurring attacks, the NSCDC has intensified its Agro-Rangers programme—a specialised security initiative designed to protect agricultural communities.
According to the corps’ spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, the agency plays a crucial role in safeguarding farmers and agricultural investments across the country. He explained that the corps maintains a long-standing partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to secure farmlands, agricultural facilities, and agro-allied investments.
Afolabi disclosed that the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abubakar Audi, has reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to deploy specially trained personnel to farming communities nationwide.
According to him, the corps has already trained and retrained thousands of operatives specifically for this purpose.
“The security of farmers is our topmost priority; this culminates in the training and retraining of Special Agro-Rangers operatives numbering over 11,000 across the federation,” Afolabi said.
He further called on citizens to support the initiative by providing credible intelligence that could help prevent attacks.
“We enjoin the public to continue to give us relevant information that would assist our work, and most of all, the ravaged areas need more proactiveness in terms of intelligence gathering to forestall attacks and mishaps.”
Protecting Food Security
Beyond safeguarding lives, the Agro-Rangers initiative is also tied directly to Nigeria’s broader fight against food insecurity.
Agriculture remains one of our country’s largest employers, sustaining millions of rural households. However, insecurity in farming communities has already contributed to reduced agricultural output, rising food prices, and growing inflation.
Afolabi emphasized that the corps remains committed to addressing these challenges through enhanced rural security operations.
“The Corps is not relenting on putting all hands on deck to enhance food security in the nation. The Commandant-General, during the last retraining programme for the Agro-Rangers operatives in Plateau State, affirmed the NSCDC’s readiness to deploy the specially trained officers and men to needed areas for the adequate safety of farmers and, by extension, to combat food insecurity.”
Why This Deployment Matters
The decision to deploy 11,000 Agro-Rangers is significant for several reasons.
First, it represents a recognition that security and food production are deeply interconnected. Farmers cannot cultivate crops in fear, and agricultural investment cannot thrive in unstable environments.
Second, the deployment may help rebuild confidence among farmers who have abandoned their land due to insecurity. If properly implemented, the initiative could encourage displaced farmers to return to their fields ahead of the 2026 planting season.
Third, protecting farming communities could have a ripple effect on the entire economy by stabilising food supply and reducing price volatility.
The Challenges Ahead
While the initiative is commendable, it is not without challenges.
Nigeria’s vast rural terrain means that protecting every farming community will require sustained coordination between security agencies, local governments, and community leaders. Intelligence gathering, rapid response mechanisms, and adequate funding will also determine the effectiveness of the Agro-Rangers programme.
Moreover, the fight against banditry and insurgency requires a broader national strategy that addresses the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, and weak rural infrastructure.
A Step in the Right Direction
The deployment of 11,000 Agro-Rangers by the NSCDC is a critical step toward securing Nigeria’s agricultural heartlands. But it must be part of a sustained national effort that prioritises rural security and agricultural development.
Farmers remain the backbone of Nigeria’s food system. Protecting them is not merely a security obligation—it is an economic and humanitarian necessity.
If Nigeria is to achieve lasting food security and rural prosperity, ensuring that farmers can safely cultivate their land must remain at the center of national policy.
