'Guarded Harvests': Nigerian Farmers Face Deadly Threats from Militants

Sat Oct 25 2025 10:31:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In the conflict-ridden Borno state of Nigeria, farmers are compelled to rely on armed security to protect them while tending to their crops, as the threat from militant groups like Boko Haram escalates.

Farmers in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state are confronted with unrelenting threats from jihadist groups, forcing them to employ armed guards for protection while they work their fields. With a surge in violence against agricultural workers, the government has introduced the Agro Rangers, a security unit dedicated to safeguarding farmers. Yet, many locals express fear and skepticism about their safety, as the region grapples with widespread food insecurity. Despite government efforts to facilitate the return of displaced farmers, the situation remains precarious, as militant attacks continue to claim lives and instill fear into the farming community.

In the rural stretches of north-eastern Nigeria, as women cultivate crops under the watchful eyes of armed guards, the stark reality of farming amidst threats from jihadists is abundantly clear. The Agro Rangers, a government initiative designed to protect farmers from militant attacks, now play a crucial role in mitigating these dangers.

Aisha Isa, a 50-year-old farmer, expresses the palpable fear that envelops her community: There is fear - we fear for our souls. Many farmers have abandoned their homes in the face of violence, opting instead for temporary housing while they risk their lives to maintain a harvest.

Shuffling through security protocols, farmers are bused in from nearby Maiduguri to designated fields, where they can plant crops under military protection. However, the fear of abduction and assassination looms large over their daily lives. Mustapha Musa, another farmer, recounts the terror: We have been hearing people are being kidnapped, reflecting the ongoing toll of violence that has escalated in recent months.

Despite measured government interventions and the need for food security, the grim statistics reveal a doubling of farmer fatalities in 2025 due to Islamist attacks. As farmers navigate the precarious balance between survival and safety, the grim specter of Boko Haram continues to shadow their efforts toward a sustainable livelihood.

The initiative involving Agro Rangers, though promising, raises concerns about its adequacy. As the head of the program asserts, We cannot be everywhere. We are not spirits, highlighting the limited reach of current protective measures and the ongoing risks that farmers face.

As critics of the government call for more robust measures, local farmers plead for decisive action to restore security to their lands, a plea that echoes in the fields where fear, duty, and survival converge in the most challenging of circumstances.