Farmers in Nigeria’s northern Katsina state are being forced to abandon their farms due to deadly attacks by armed gangs, contributing to higher food prices and soaring inflation in the country.
In the latest incident, 42-year-old maize and sesame seed farmer Hassan Ya’u and his fellow farmer Musa Nasidi narrowly escaped an attack by dozens of armed men on motorcycles as they were tending to their crops earlier this month. However, at least 50 other farmers working in the fields at the time were killed in the assault. An unknown number of people were also abducted.
Ya’u and Nasidi said the gunmen had targeted their Kankara farming community because the farmers had not paid a levy imposed by the armed gang. Such raids are becoming increasingly common, forcing many farmers to leave their fields out of fear for their safety.
The abandonment of farmlands is contributing to higher food prices and soaring inflation in Nigeria, which is facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. Staple crops like maize and sesame are becoming scarce, driving up prices for consumers.
Experts warn that the situation could worsen as the planting season approaches, with farmers reluctant to return to their fields due to the security threats. This could further exacerbate Nigeria’s food security challenges and deepen the economic crisis facing the country.