The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on Tuesday, said it is horrified by the killing of at least 12 farmers in Kalle village, Borno state, Northeast Nigeria over the weekend.
NRC, in a statement made available to DAILY POST, stated that repeated attacks against farmers risk aggravating the food crisis in northeast Nigeria.
According to the statement, “Farmers must be protected so they can cultivate their land and return to their families alive.
“The level of violence registered lately in Northeast Nigeria is alarming. Farmers have been easy targets. These attacks risk making people too afraid to cultivate their land and may worsen the existing food crisis,” said Anja Riiser, area manager for NRC in Maiduguri.
The latest attacks against farmers underscore the vulnerability of rural communities, even as the authorities are encouraging displaced people to return home to rebuild their lives.
“We were on the farms when about 15 armed men surrounded us,” Haruna, who escaped the attack, told NRC staff. “They took the men to a tree and started slaughtering them like animals. They repeatedly said they will not allow any of us to harvest the crops we cultivated this year,” he added.
At least 1,300 people are reported to have fled after the attacks and many have taken refuge at a displacement camp in Maiduguri.
Families and friends of the slain farmers said they are too scared to return to their farms.
“My children and I stood by as they killed my husband. I cried and pleaded for their mercy, but they didn’t listen. I will never return to the farm again,” said Indagiju, who fled the village.
The attacks on farmers risk worsening the existing food crisis in Northeast Nigeria.
It is estimated that 2.9 million people are facing acute food insecurity in northeastern states of Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno where violence has been on the rise.
Crops have been destroyed and food stores looted, while farmers have either been killed or forced to flee their fields.
