The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has condemned the killing of 23 farmers by suspected armed bandits in Sauna District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

CNG urged the federal government to launch decisive security operations to end the wave of attacks on rural communities.

The coalition described the massacre as a grim reminder of the worsening insecurity in parts of Northern Nigeria, warning that persistent attacks on farmers could undermine the country’s food security and worsen economic hardship.

In a statement on Saturday, its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Charanchi, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, the people of Sauna District and the Zamfara State Government over what he called the “unacceptable loss of innocent lives.”

According to the group, the victims were attacked while working on their farms, a development it said reflects the growing audacity of armed bandits operating across the region.

Charanchi said the attack was particularly disturbing because the victims were law-abiding farmers striving to provide food for their families and contribute to the nation’s agricultural production.

He noted that the incident came at a critical period of the farming season, when farmers are expected to cultivate crops that would sustain millions of Nigerians.

He warned that continued insecurity in farming communities could lead to reduced agricultural output, worsening food shortages, rising food prices, displacement of rural residents and deeper economic challenges.

The coalition called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to intensify coordinated military and intelligence operations across Zamfara and other banditry-prone states.

It also urged the Zamfara State Government to deepen collaboration with federal security agencies, traditional rulers and local communities to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid response mechanisms.

The CNG further advocated a sustained security presence in vulnerable farming communities, major agricultural corridors and rural access roads throughout the farming season to enable farmers carry out their activities without fear.

It also appealed to the government to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to affected families and ensure that survivors receive adequate medical, psychological and economic support.

The coalition stressed the need for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack, saying ending impunity would serve as a strong deterrent against future atrocities.

“The protection of lives and property remains the foremost constitutional responsibility of government. Every farmer killed is not just a human tragedy but also a direct attack on the economy, food security and national stability,” Charanchi said.

He added that the country had reached a point where routine condemnations and expressions of sympathy were no longer sufficient, insisting that only sustained, intelligence-driven security operations could restore confidence in rural communities and guarantee the safety of farmers. (The Nation)