June 20, 2026 – North-Central Nigeria
Farmers across Benue and Plateau States have expressed frustration over their inability to cultivate their lands due to persistent attacks by bandits, raising fears of a looming food crisis as the 2026 planting season gathers momentum.
In Benue State, attacks on farming communities have resulted in the deaths of several farmers and the destruction of property, forcing many to abandon their ancestral farmlands. The attacks, often carried out by armed herders and bandits, have targeted communities in Apa, Guma, Ukum, and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas.
We are ready to farm. We have our seeds, our tools, and our strength. But we are afraid to go to our farms because we do not know if we will return alive, a farmer from Apa LGA told Prime Brief Media.
Plateau State has also witnessed increased violence, leading to the displacement of thousands of residents and reducing the workforce available for cultivation. Communities in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, and Bassa LGAs have been repeatedly attacked, with many farmers fleeing to internally displaced persons camps.
One farmer from Riyom LGA said: "We are farmers. This is all we know. But now, we cannot farm. Our children are hungry. Our families are suffering."
Community leaders have warned that the agricultural season could be severely disrupted if security is not restored to farming communities. The situation has renewed calls for urgent government intervention to protect farmers and ensure food security across the region.
The Vice President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Daniel Okafor, said: "Farmers are ready and determined to go to their farms, but there is fear of the unknown. They are not sure what will happen if they go to the farm or whether they will return safely."
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that as many as 35 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season if attacks continue.
The inability of farmers in Benue and Plateau to cultivate their lands threatens not only the livelihoods of millions but also the food security of the entire nation. Nigeria relies heavily on smallholder farmers for food production, and any disruption to the agricultural season will lead to higher food prices, increased hunger, and greater dependence on food imports. The government must act decisively to secure farming communities and ensure that the farmers can return to their fields without fear.