Relocated farmers say they would happily return to their ancestral homes if there was peace in Borno State and they did not have to live in fear of attacks by insurgents

Rice farmers who fled Borno State and settled in Taraba State to escape violent and often deadly attacks by insurgents say they would love to return to their ancestral homes but they are too afraid of the ongoing conflict.

About 100 farmers, originally from Zabarmari, Jere and Dikwa, left Borno about five years ago to start a new and safer life in Taraba.

Babagana Lawan told RNI that he and other farmers had fled Borno because of the insurgency.

“We were being attacked so frequently that we knew we had to flee or we would end up dead. Farmers in Taraba, from whom we bought rice seeds, heard about our plight and they encouraged us to leave Borno and settle there.

“It was a hard decision. At first just a few of us relocated but later we were joined by our families and other rice farmers.

“In Borno we were so fearful of attacks. We knew that every day we went to our farmlands could be our last. Many farmers were attacked and badly wounded. Quite a few were kidnapped. Others were killed. It was regarded as ‘lucky’ if the insurgents just chased us away. And farmers are still being attacked. There is no peace.

“We could not carry on living like that so we left our ancestral homes.

“We are poor and farming is the only way we can survive. Although there are fewer attacks in Borno these days, conflicts still occur and insurgents emerge from deep in the forests to commit deadly atrocities. Farmers still live in fear.”

Lawan said the Borno farmers in Taraba would love to return to their homelands but they were too terrified.

“There is no state in Nigeria that is as wealthy in terms of agriculture as Borno. We would return if there was peace. Borno is where our roots are. But we have to look after ourselves and our families and we won’t go back until there is a lasting peace.”

Modu Aji Shugaba, a farmer and a food security expert, said: “There are so many places in Borno State where rice grows well. Good examples are Jere and Zabarmari.

“New Marte, Gamboru Ngala, Baga, Dikwa and most of the places in the Lake Chad Basin region have good soil for rice farming but everything has come to a standstill because of insecurity.

“Jere is the closest to Maiduguri but you can’t farm there because it is too dangerous. Many farmers – not just rice farmers – have fled to other states because of the ongoing conflict. It is unfortunate that we cannot buy land in other states and we have to rent plots. But it is safe and we don’t have to worry about being attacked.

“Because farmers have left Borno, the price of food has increased steeply. But the cost of food and other commodities has increased all over Nigeria. We are all struggling.”

Shugaba urged the federal and Borno State governments to act quickly to create safe areas for farmers.

“The insurgency is a serious threat not only to the state’s food security but also for the whole country.”

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI