Taraba’s dry season farming is threatened by insecurity-locals cry.

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

Taraba State’s dry season farmers are worried about growing levels of insecurity in different regions of the state.

The farmers demanded prompt action from the state administration and security forces because they believe that the instability will have a detrimental effect on them.

A few of them said that it was concerning how frequently people were being killed and kidnapped in different regions of the state.

They determined that the most afflicted council areas were Yorro, Bali, Lau, Ardo-Kola, and Karim-Lamido.

Yahaya Mafindi, a farmer, and Abdullahi Bello, his counterpart, issued a warning that banditry could impede essential farming operations throughout Taraba.

A farmer in Lau Council Area’s Donada village named Saidu Dauda shared a concerning description of the circumstances.

Hajiya Laraba Aminu Abdul, Chairperson of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Taraba State, echoed the same concern during the launch of the distribution of farm inputs for the 2023/2024 dry season farming in Jalingo.

Abdul emphasised that failing to curb insecurity would discourage many from participating in dry season farming.

Also, the senator representing Taraba South, David Jimkuta, recently raised alarm over a possible famine in the state and the country at large due to the rate of killing of farmers.

Meanwhile, other residents of Taraba have called on the government to address the security challenges bedevilling all parts of the state.

“Earnestly, all I am in dire need of is for the government to secure our lives and property from armed bandits and kidnappers in 2024,” Adamu Saleh, a retired police Sergeant, told DAILY POST.

On his part, Ndafru Godwin, who lamented the high cost of living in the state and in other parts of the country, called for a drastic reduction in the prices of goods and services.