There is rising apprehension over possible food crisis in the country as many farmers sacked by bandits and terrorists in core food-producing states in the North cannot take advantage of the raining season to cultivate their crops.

Mostly affected are Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano, Yobe, Niger, Nasarawa and Kebbi States where findings by the Nigerian Tribune showed that bandits have occupied some local government areas.

The survey showed that a large number of farmers have either lost their farmlands or are paying ‘tax’ or levy imposed by bandits in order to gain access to their farms.

This is despite the concerted efforts by the Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments and security agencies, to address the raging insecurity.

Zamfara

Zamfara State, which has 14 local government areas, and with the slogan ‘Farming is our pride’, has a vast farmlands that produce both cash and food crops. These include: maize, millet, rice, bean, soya beans and potatoes.

However, the state has become an epicentre of banditry, with farmers deprived of accessing their farmlands, constituting a threat to food security in the state.

Farming activities are impeded in almost all the major farming communities across the local governments in the state.

Worst-hit by the menace are: Maru, Maradun, Zurmi, Gusau, Bakura, Tsafe, Talata Mafara, Gummi and Anka LGAs.

Farmers have recorded several attacks by the bandits while working on their farmlands.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, a resident from one of the affected villages, who identified himself as Adamu Abdullahi, told the Nigerian Tribune that N20 million levy was imposed on communities across five villages by bandits to allow farmers into their farms.

Another resident in Sauna district of Talata Mafara Local Government, said the bandits earlier killed about 20 farmers, including his younger brother on their farmland.

A farmer in the local government, Mallam Dahiru Samaila, said the state was not only affected by human disaster, but also by natural disaster such as the invasion of birds which destroy corps.

Katsina

In Katsina State, most farmers in 10 out of its 34 local governments are blocked from accessing their farm lands by bandits.

Armed groups operating around forest belts in the state, such as Rugu forest in Faskari and Kankara, forced rural farmers to pay illegal “farming taxes” or “peace levies” of up to N50,000 per acre before allowing them to cultivate or harvest their crops.

In June 2026, bandits reportedly asked residents of Kwandawa community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state to pay a N20 million levy or vacate their village and farmlands.

Mahuta farmers, in the same local government lost three farmers after defying the bandits’ order to steer clear of their farms.

The local governments mostly affected by the scourge include: Matazu, Musawa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, Malumfashi, Dandume, Batsari, Kankia, Funtua and Bakori.

Farmers in the areas, who refused or failed to pay “taxes” ordered by the bandits, face constant harassment, destruction and burning of their crops and violent physical attacks.

Due to the bandits’ activities, many rural residents in the local areas are forced to abandon their farmlands.

The efforts of both the federal and state governments to tame the ugly trend, include recruitment of Community Security Watch Corps.

Malam El-Yakubu Sakaba, a farmer in Danko-Wassagu and Sakaba communities, however, told the Nigeria Tribune that farmers are doing well on their farms this year, as Governor Nasiru Idris, has helped them to reduce the activities of bandits in the local government areas.

Taraba

In Taraba State, 12 communities in four local government areas are still being denied access to their ancestral homes and farm lands.

The state House of Assembly has, therefore, called on the government to deploy more security personnel to the affected areas to enable residents to return.

The affected communities include: Jandekura, Ayu, Ikyaior, Tormusa, Tor-Iorshaegh in Wukari Local Government Area. Tor-Damisa and AKete in Donga Local Government Area, Peva, Tse Avande and Kufai Ahmadu in Takum Local Government Area, while Munga and Munga-Doso in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area.

Residents told the Nigerian Tribune that the attacks usually focused on farmers by destroying their crops.

Executive Secretary, Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA), Dr Echuseh Audu, told the Nigerian Tribune that through the support of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the agency has distributed relief materials to the affected communities.

However, Honourable Abubakar Yusuf, a member of the assembly representing Takumi constituency, described the continued attacks and killings as unjustifiable, saying that what initially appeared to be isolated incidents has evolved into sustained violence threatening the stability of the state.

Also, the Catholic Bishop of Wukari Diocese, Most Reverend Mark Maigida Nzukwein, called for immediate action, as the attackers were not only killing, but also destroying crops.

Sokoto

In Sokoto State, farmers are being cut off from farmlands as a result of the activities of bandits.

Many farmers across the state have continued to face difficulty in accessing their farmlands, due to attacks by the bandits, despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring security.

The development is affecting farming activities at the peak of the rainy season and raising concerns over food production and rural livelihoods.

The mostly affected local government areas include: Tangaza, Gudu, Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Rabah, Illela, Binji and parts of Silame. Communities such as Bafarawa, Tozai, Lugu, Kamarawa, Turtsawa, Gatawa, Gangara, Tsamaye, Kojiyo, Kware and Fakai.

However, the state government maintained that it has strengthened security through provision of operational vehicles, motorcycles and logistics to security agencies, adding that joint operations against criminal groups are ongoing, while efforts are being made to encourage displaced farmers to return to their communities under improved security arrangements.

Plateau

Farmers in the North Central zone may have a lower-than-average yield this year, as bandits and other unwanted forces continue to push further into the agricultural communities and villages of the Middle Belt.

The Nigerian Tribune discovered in Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara and Benue states that most of the farming communities, defined as the food baskets of the zone, are under attack and have been abandoned.

According to available indices, farming activities have decreased, and many farmers have given up farming in order to make ends meet by venturing into other businesses.

National president, Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYMA), Solomon Mwatiri Dalyop, said over 100 communities and villages in three local governments of Riyom, Barakin-Ladi and Jos South of Plateau State, which are farming communities have been deserted, with farmers scared out by bandits.

Findings further revealed that the large-scale production of Irish potatoes, which is synonymous with Plateau State, is on the decline, due to bandits’ attacks, as farmers are scared to enter their farms.

Niger

Niger State, six local government areas of Shiroro, Rafi, Munya, Mariga, Mashegu and Borgu, had been affected by banditry over the last five years.

A security expert, Joseph Musa, disclosed that recurring attacks, kidnappings and killings have forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, adding that the recent regional studies conducted indicated that food production in Niger had been reduced by 52 percent.

Benue

In Benue State, no fewer than five local government areas have been deserted by their residents as a result of renewed herders’ attacks.

About four local governments, comprising Guma, Kwande, Gwer West, and Logo, had for several years, suffered continued attacks by suspected herders.

Residents from the four localities form the bulk of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the 15 official camps located across the state.

Speaking on the effects of the unabated attacks on Benue communities, the leader of the three socio-cultural groups in the state, Iorbee Ihagh, a retired Comptroller of Prison, told the Nigerian Tribune, that the attacks had displaced several people across the state.

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Kula Tersoo, said that the government is not resting on its oars at ensuring that the displaced persons return to their ancestral homes to begin farming.

Kula cited some communities in Makurdi, Guma and a few other local government areas where the residents had returned to their ancestral homes.

He reiterated the commitment of the governor to ensure that the IDPs in the state return to their ancestral homes.

Kebbi

In Kebbi State with 21 local governments, up till last year, bandits displaced farmers in Zuru Emirates of Danko-Wassagu and Sakaba local governments.

But towards the end of 2025, due to the efforts of the state governor, and the security agencies, the two local governments have been policed to the extent that bandits, who rustle animals and abduct farmers on their farms were killed, while some were arrested.

Crops like beans, rice, millet, soya beans, pepper and tomatoes are now being cultivated with the supports of the state government who provided farm implements to farmers in the local governments.

Insecurity pushes farmers into poverty, worsening food production —MBF

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has stated that insecurity in the Middle Belt has pushed many farmers into poverty, claiming that the trend has significantly lowered good output in recent years, specifically in 2026.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Luka Biniyat, said in Southern Kaduna, bandits and other elements have taken over more than 6,000 square kilometres of the fertile land of various communities.

“The same is true in the yam and cassava-producing areas of Tiv and Idoma lands in Benue State, where attacks by FEM have made farming a dangerous activity.

“The violence in Benue State has spilled into Nasarawa State, with many villagers evacuated as a result of attacks.”

According to him, the Danko/Sakaba and Zuru areas of Southern Kebbi, among Nigeria’s leading producers of groundnuts and rice, can now produce only a fraction of their former output after the displacement of farming communities.

“Also, Kwara and Kogi states, which were once spared from the violence, have now been affected in 2026. Scores of rural farmers have fled to safer urban areas,” he added. (Nigerian Tribune)