MAIDUGIRI, Nigeria – The All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, has vehemently condemned the brutal killing of nine farmers by Boko Haram insurgents in the Molai area of Borno State.
This heartbreaking incident occurred on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, provoking widespread outrage and calls for more robust security measures to protect farmers in the region.
Ibrahim Kabir, National President of AFAN, on Friday, June 16, 2023, expressed profound grief over the incident.
Kabir described the attacks as “barbaric” and “inhuman,” lamenting the killing of innocent farmers working to feed the Nigerian populace.
“We are pained by the loss of the lives of farmers as a result of the Boko Haram attack specifically in the Molai axis of Borno State,” said Kabir.
He further urged farmers to heed security advisories and avoid areas known to be dangerous.
“We also caution the farmers against defying simple instructions on no-go areas clearly mentioned by security agencies as happened in the Molai incident,” he warned.
Nevertheless, Kabir called upon President Bola Tinubu to adopt a comprehensive approach to tackle insecurity wherever it surfaces in the country.
He stated, “We call on President Tinubu to evolve a critical mass to address the issue of insecurity whenever and wherever it occurs.”
In light of the recent removal of fuel subsidies, Kabir also appealed to the President to prioritize farmers when delivering promised palliatives.
He urged that support in the form of subsidies on seeds, agrochemicals, fertilizers, and other farming inputs should reach smallholder farmers directly, bypassing intermediaries who often mismanage such resources.
