The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over the growing attacks and abductions of farmers and other residents across parts of the South-West.
The group said the insecurity had forced some farmers to abandon their farms, threatening agricultural production and potentially worsening food insecurity in the region.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the organisation, its recent visits to Oke-Ogun and parts of northern Oyo and Ondo states revealed the extent to which insecurity was affecting farming communities.
Afenifere said farmers cited fear of kidnapping, poor returns caused by middlemen and the destruction of farmlands through illegal grazing as major reasons for abandoning agriculture.
“Many farmers now abandon their farms due to fear of abduction, ransom demands and violent attacks,” the group stated.
It cited several recent incidents, including the killing of a female farmer in Ondo State, the abduction of 33-year-old poultry farmer Ooreoluwa Osonuga in Ikenne, Ogun State, and the reported killing of four farmers in Oke-Ogun.
The organisation also raised concerns over the continued captivity of Debo Farounbi, who was reportedly abducted in Ora, Osun State, on June 9.
Afenifere said sources claimed that a ransom of ₦30m had been paid for Farounbi’s release, but the abductors were still demanding more money and other items.
The group further referenced concerns raised by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in June over the impact of farmer abductions in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
Afenifere said the association had warned that repeated attacks were discouraging agricultural investment, reducing productivity and threatening the livelihoods of farming households.
The organisation also quoted Ondo State farmer Eddy Olafeso as saying insecurity had forced him to abandon his 10-hectare farm, where he cultivated crops including cassava, cocoa, yam and plantain.
It added that Shitu Kabir, President of the Cowpea and Beans Farmers Association of Nigeria and Vice President of the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association, had reported a sharp decline in the production of cowpea and beans due to insecurity.
Afenifere warned that continued attacks on farmers could worsen food shortages and unemployment, particularly if agricultural businesses become increasingly difficult to operate.
It said a former Chairman of the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association, Olugbenga Obaweya, had similarly warned that insecurity was putting food production and agriculture-related businesses at risk.
The group, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan.
Afenifere also praised security agencies for rescuing abducted students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, while urging authorities to intensify efforts to free those still in captivity.
The organisation called for a coordinated approach to tackling banditry, including stronger military operations, tighter border security, effective community policing and measures to eliminate the financial incentives driving kidnapping.
It also urged communities and security agencies to identify and act against individuals suspected of assisting criminal groups.
Afenifere specifically appealed to governors across the six South-West states to strengthen the regional security outfit, Amotekun, pending the establishment of state police.
It recommended increased personnel, improved communication equipment, operational vehicles and surveillance drones for the security outfit.
The organisation also called for stricter enforcement of anti-open grazing laws, the creation of specialised ranger units to patrol forest reserves and the integration of local hunters and vigilantes into intelligence-sharing networks.
It further proposed joint security checkpoints along vulnerable state borders and encouraged authorities to promote modern ranching as part of efforts to reduce farmer-herder conflicts.
Afenifere urged governments at all levels to act quickly, warning that failure to address insecurity could have serious consequences for food production and the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
