In a decisive response to the alarming rise in attacks on farmers, the Nigerian military has launched intensified aerial and ground patrols across the country to safeguard agricultural communities and bolster food security.
The move follows a disturbing series of violent incidents reported between January and July 2025, which have left scores of farmers dead and raised fears of a deepening food crisis.
Among the worst-hit regions:
Borno State: At least 40 farmers were killed on January 13.
Kebbi State: 15 people lost their lives in an attack on Waje village on May 19.
Ondo State: 20 farmers were massacred in coordinated attacks across four communities in March.
Akure North (Ondo State): Suspected herdsmen killed 5 more farmers.
Sokoto State: Infamous bandit leader Bello Turji was linked to the killing of 11 farmers in April.
Plateau State: On July 16, 27 men and women were murdered in the Tahoss community in Riyom Local Government Area.
In a statement on Monday, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, assured Nigerians that military forces were fully engaged in protective patrol operations across the North East, North West, North Central, and other affected areas.
“Farmers in Borno and other conflict-prone areas have resumed farming activities, thanks to ongoing foot and aerial patrols that have significantly degraded terrorist and bandit operations,” Kangye said.
Addressing concerns of regional bias, Kangye clarified that the military’s protective presence was not limited to northern regions.
“Our operations are nationwide. When I say troops are providing a conducive atmosphere for farming, it cuts across all regions and theatres,” he stated.
The military’s deployment comes at a critical time, with food security in Nigeria reaching alarming levels.
According to Nuhu Kilishi, Director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, over 161 million Nigerians are currently food insecure, with the rate of moderate to severe food insecurity jumping from 35% in 2014 to 74% in 2025.
“Only 20% of Nigerians can confidently say where their next meal will come from,” Kilishi warned, linking the crisis to growing insecurity and economic hardship.
With farming activities under constant threat and the spectre of a national food crisis looming large, the military’s enhanced operations offer a glimmer of hope for agricultural stability and community resilience.
Stakeholders across government and civil society continue to urge sustained security efforts, rapid policy intervention, and better support for vulnerable farmers as part of a broader push to restore Nigeria’s food supply chain.
