By Dr. James Bwala
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed 15 farmers in the Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, serving as 15 farmers in the Marte Local Government Area of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram terrorists is a tragic reminder of the serious security challenges confronting Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The victims were not combatants or political actors. They were ordinary Nigerians who went to their farms to earn a living, support their families, and contribute to the nation’s food supply. Their deaths represent not only a devastating loss of innocent lives but also a direct assault on Nigeria’s efforts to achieve food security.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, rightly expressed deep sadness and outrage over the incident. In his statement, he extended condolences to the families of the victims, the people of Marte, the Borno State Government, and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. He also prayed for the eternal rest of the deceased and comfort for their families. His response reflects the gravity of the tragedy and the urgent need for stronger action to protect farmers and rural communities across the country.
Farmers are essential to Nigeria’s survival and development. They produce the food consumed in homes, schools, hospitals, markets, and industries. They also provide raw materials for agro-processing and create employment for millions of people. When farmers are attacked, the consequences extend far beyond the immediate victims. Their families lose breadwinners, communities lose productive citizens, markets suffer shortages, and consumers face rising food prices. In this sense, terrorism against farmers is an attack on the entire national economy.
The situation in Borno State is particularly concerning. For years, the Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of criminality have disrupted social and economic life in the region. Many farmers have been forced to abandon their ancestral lands because they fear being killed, kidnapped, or attacked while working. Others can cultivate only small portions of their farms or do so under dangerous conditions. Some farmers have been displaced into camps and urban centers, where they depend on humanitarian assistance instead of producing food. This cycle of insecurity and displacement weakens local economies and deepens poverty.
The recent killing of the farmers in Marte demonstrates that farming remains a high-risk activity in many parts of the country. It is unacceptable that citizens should be forced to choose between cultivating their land and protecting their lives. A farmer who leaves home in the morning should be able to return safely to his or her family. The right to work without fear is fundamental, and the government has a responsibility to guarantee that right.
The government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda must therefore include a comprehensive and practical strategy for agricultural security. Policies aimed at increasing food production, distributing inputs, providing financing, and modernizing farming will achieve limited results if farmers cannot safely access their fields. Food security is not merely a matter of seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, or machinery. It also depends on peace, stability, intelligence, and the protection of farming communities.
Security agencies deserve recognition for their efforts to protect communities affected by terrorism and insurgency. However, the scale and persistence of the threat require intensified operations and improved coordination. The minister’s call for security agencies to bring those responsible to justice and locate the three persons reportedly still missing is both necessary and urgent. Thorough investigations are essential, and lawful prosecution must hold perpetrators accountable. Justice is important not only for the victims’ families but also for restoring public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
Security operations should also be based on reliable intelligence and strong cooperation with local communities. Farmers, traditional leaders, vigilante groups, and community organizations often possess valuable information about suspicious movements and criminal networks. However, their cooperation should not expose them to additional danger. The government should establish secure channels through which residents can share information confidentially and receive timely protection.
In addition, security agencies require adequate personnel, equipment, communication systems, mobility, and welfare support. Soldiers and other security officers operating in difficult rural terrain must have the resources necessary to respond quickly to attacks and protect remote communities. Regular patrols along farming routes, early-warning systems, emergency communication networks, and rapid-response units can reduce the vulnerability of farmers. Security planning should also account for seasonal farming patterns, when large numbers of people move into agricultural areas.
The protection of farmers should not be limited to military intervention. State and local governments must support measures that address the wider conditions allowing terrorism and criminality to flourish. Youth unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, drug abuse, and the absence of basic services can create an environment in which extremist groups recruit vulnerable people. Expanding education, vocational training, healthcare, roads, electricity, and legitimate employment opportunities will strengthen communities and reduce the influence of criminal organizations.
The humanitarian needs of affected families must also receive urgent attention. The relatives of the 15 deceased farmers may have lost their primary sources of income. They may require financial assistance, food, medical care, psychological support, and help with children’s education. The missing persons must be located, and their families must be kept informed about search efforts. Government support should be delivered transparently and promptly, without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Farmers who have been displaced by insecurity also need assistance to return to productive livelihoods. Before resettlement takes place, their communities must be cleared of terrorists, unexploded devices, and other dangers. Roads, markets, irrigation facilities, schools, and health centers must be restored. Farmers should receive seeds, tools, fertilizer, credit, extension services, and access to markets. A secure return to farming can help rebuild both household incomes and local food systems.
Nigeria must also invest in technologies that can improve agricultural security. Satellite imagery, drones, geographic information systems, and mobile communication platforms can help monitor remote farmlands and detect unusual activity. Digital tools can support early warning, emergency alerts, and coordination between farmers and security personnel. While technology cannot replace human intelligence or community engagement, it can significantly improve the ability of authorities to prevent attacks and respond to emergencies.
Another important measure is the development of structured farmer-security partnerships. In some areas, farmers work in isolated locations without regular contact with authorities. Local security committees could be established to identify high-risk areas, organize safe farming schedules, report threats, and coordinate emergency responses. Such arrangements must operate within the law and under proper supervision to prevent abuses and the proliferation of illegal armed groups. The objective should be community protection, not vigilantism.
The private sector and civil society also have roles to play. Agribusinesses, financial institutions, humanitarian organizations, religious bodies, and community associations can support affected farmers through insurance schemes, emergency funds, mental health services, and livelihood programs. Agricultural insurance should be expanded to cover losses resulting from terrorism and other security-related disruptions. Farmers should not be left completely vulnerable when their crops, equipment, or lives are threatened by forces beyond their control.
At the national level, the killing of farmers should be treated as a food-security emergency, not simply as an isolated security incident. When large numbers of farmers are unable to cultivate their land, food production declines. Reduced supply leads to higher prices, increased dependence on imports, and greater pressure on household incomes. Poor families are affected most severely because they spend a larger proportion of their earnings on food. Consequently, protecting farmers is one of the most effective ways to address inflation, hunger, and economic hardship.
The federal government must therefore ensure that agricultural policy and national security policy are closely connected. Ministries responsible for agriculture, defense, humanitarian affairs, finance, transportation, and rural development should work from a shared strategy. State governments must be included in planning and implementation, while local authorities should be given the resources and responsibility to respond to community needs. Fragmented action will not solve a crisis that affects security, food, employment, displacement, and public health simultaneously.
The people of Borno State deserve solidarity from all Nigerians. The suffering caused by terrorism in the Northeast is a national concern, not a regional problem. Citizens, media organizations, religious leaders, and political parties should reject narratives that divide communities or stigmatize victims. Public attention should remain focused on protecting lives, supporting affected families, defeating terrorist networks, and rebuilding the region.
The murder of the 15 farmers in Marte must not become another forgotten tragedy. It should inspire a stronger national commitment to protecting agricultural workers and rural communities. The authorities must intensify efforts to find the missing persons, identify the perpetrators, and prevent similar attacks. They must also provide meaningful support to the victims’ families and create conditions that allow farmers to return to their fields without fear.
Senator Abubakar Kyari’s statement correctly captures the central truth: protecting farmers is protecting Nigeria’s food security. It is also protecting families, rural economies, national stability, and the country’s future. No nation can achieve sustainable development while its farmers are unsafe. Nigeria must therefore match expressions of sympathy with decisive action, sustained investment, effective security coordination, and accountability.
The victims of the Marte attack should be remembered not only with prayers but also through renewed efforts to ensure that other farmers do not suffer the same fate. A safe agricultural environment is a national necessity. By protecting those who produce the nation’s food, Nigeria will take a major step toward building a more secure, prosperous, and self-reliant future.
Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja
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