Indigenous individuals from Borno who are departing from the IDP camps are advocating for enhanced security measures as they venture back to their farmlands for the upcoming cropping season. A diverse group of farmers and fishermen expressed this sentiment in individual interviews conducted at the Muna Camp in Maiduguri.
Recently, the Borno government initiated the relocation of internally displaced persons to their reclaimed ancestral residences. The residents expressed their anticipation for a secure environment that would enable them to partake in extensive agricultural activities during this season, ensuring an ample food supply for their families and the state.
Mustapha Bukar of Marte remarked, “Current inflation has made life exceedingly challenging. We are hopeful that upon our return home, there will be sufficient security to resume our agricultural, fishing, and livestock-rearing endeavors. This is our only prospect as we possess vast and fertile land to rebuild our lives after enduring years in camps due to the insurgency.”
Ibrahim Buba of Gwoza and Modu Mukhtar of Bama commended the military and other security forces for reinstating a semblance of peace, enabling individuals to come back and engage in farming activities. Nonetheless, they urged for more robust military operations to eliminate the remnants of insurgents who continue to pose threats to farmers.
“There are extensive farming areas that remain inaccessible due to the lingering menace from the remnants of insurgents. We require extensive and continuous clearance operations by security forces to facilitate the access of thousands of farmers to their lands for increased food production. This is crucial to avert the looming threat of famine if security conditions are not improved,” Mr. Buba emphasized.
Fati Abba from Jere and Tijjani Bulama from Konduga highlighted that despite the recent 10-day clearance operations conducted by the military, there are still occurrences of attacks on farmers as they clear their lands.
“We urgently need another large-scale clearance operation and, if necessary, the establishment of military outposts in strategic locations within the bushes surrounding the Sambisa forest and other perilous areas to safeguard farmers and fishermen. Agriculture remains the primary avenue for millions of resettled individuals to recover from poverty; hence, allowing the remnants of insurgents to persist in posing threats to agriculture is perilous,” Mr. Bulama articulated.
Habu Ibrahim from Jere also advocated for intensified efforts to crack down on the remaining insurgents to ensure smooth operations for motorists on pivotal federal roads such as the Maiduguri-Bama-Banki Road, Maiduguri-Gwoza-Mubi Road, Maiduguri-Dikwa-Ngala Road, and Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu Road.
“Every conceivable measure must be taken to ensure these federal roads are fully functional like the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road. Our security apparatus must not permit terrorists to continue to pose severe threats to the restoration of normalcy in the North-East. These terrorists have previously challenged the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari with similar threats. We cannot allow them to do the same under Tinubu’s administration,” Mr. Ibrahim asserted.
