Farmers under the aegis of Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria, CPFAN, have called on President Bola Tinubu to find urgent solutions to the incessant bandits attacks.
The group lamented that countless numbers of farmers have lost their lives and many have been kidnapped on their farms after bandits attacks across the country.
The National President of CPFAN, Ayodele Ojo, while speaking in Akure, Ondo State capital, said as a result of the attacks, most farmers had abandoned their farms over fear of being killed or kidnapped while security operatives seem to be helpless.
“We don’t know what is happening. The insecurity in the land is getting out of hand, we want Mr. President to look into it as a matter of urgency. Farmers cannot access their farms to harvest their farm produce despite the fact that the produce is due for harvest.
Bandits have harvested some of the farm products, they kidnap our members (farmers) while we also pay ransom for their freedom.
“Some of the hoodlums are now in control of the farms of some of our members, and we are in a very difficult situation now because we are not allowed to visit our farms again. Many of us have not been to the farms for weeks now because of the fear of being kidnapped,” he said.
He further stated that if the situation is not brought under control, there might be a shortage of food this year and in the future.
The CPFAN President said farmers across the country had kicked against the recent instruction by the President, calling on state governors to provide land for grazing for herders, explaining that the creation of grazing zones for herders is an invitation to farmer-herder clashes in the country.
