Daudu, Benue State – April 16, 2026
In a move aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and reinforcing trust with host communities, the Nigerian Army has donated 196 bags of fertilizer to farmers in Daudu community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The donation, executed under the Army's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, is part of a broader strategy to link security operations with grassroots development, particularly in areas affected by farmer-herder conflicts and other security challenges.
The distribution ceremony took place on Wednesday at the UBE Primary School in Daudu. Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Commander of the 401 Special Forces Brigade, Brigadier General K. O. Bukoye, presented the items to community leaders and farmers.
Brigadier General Bukoye stated that the intervention is designed to improve farm yields and promote sustainable livelihoods within the host community. He emphasized that the Army's role extends beyond kinetic operations to include non-kinetic approaches that win hearts and minds.
"While we are here to protect you from bandits and criminal elements, we also understand that a hungry man is an angry man. This fertilizer is to help you grow more food. In return, we ask for your cooperation. Give us credible information. See something, say something," Bukoye urged the gathering.
The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Orwough, received the donation on behalf of the community. He commended the Nigerian Army for the timely gesture, noting that the rising cost of farm inputs has placed immense pressure on rural farmers in the state.
"This is a clear demonstration that the Nigerian Army is not just about carrying guns; they care about what we eat. I assure you that this fertilizer will get to the real farmers, not politicians," Hon. Orwough stated.
Beneficiaries and community elders who spoke at the event expressed profound gratitude. A local farmer, Terzungwe Iorbee, said the donation would significantly reduce his production cost this planting season.
The initiative raises an important question for policymakers and security analysts: Can sustained civil-military partnerships translate into both improved security and increased food production in Nigeria's vulnerable agrarian communities?
For the residents of Daudu, however, the immediate focus remains a productive and peaceful farming season, with the hope that the rains and the soil will be kind.
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