On July 6, a much-needed downpour soaked the Dikwa Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, bringing a sense of renewal. For 62-year-old Goni Ibrahim, this was a signal of hope. The next day, with a spring in his steps, he gathered his farming tools, mounted his bicycle, and set off for his farm, located 7 to 8 kilometres away from the town.

The sight that greeted him upon arrival filled Goni with optimism. The once-desolate fields were now buzzing with activity. Both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of the host communities were hard at work. Some were clearing unwanted plants, while others planted seeds in the freshly moistened soil. 

Goni was ready to commit himself fully to farming this year. His fields were already planted with various crops, such as maize, millet, wheat, okra, and other vegetables. As he began his work, memories of the past flooded his mind. 

Farming had been Goni’s livelihood since 1981 until the insurgency forced his family of 13 from their home in Ajiri Fadaye, a village just 5 kilometres away. They sought refuge in the Kamcheji IDP camp in Dikwa town. For nine years, Goni and his family endured the camp’s harsh conditions, and for four of those years, he could not cultivate his land due to pervasive insecurity.

In the past, the spectre of insurgency confined farmers to brief, perilous stints in their fields – arriving at 10 a.m. and leaving by noon. But a concerted effort by local authorities, soldiers, hunters, and the Civilian Joint Task Force has transformed the landscape, extending working hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. This newfound security has breathed life back into the community.

The once-constant threat of insurgents has receded, allowing Goni and his neighbours to focus on their livelihoods without fear. For Goni, farming is more than sustenance; it’s a lifeline for those struggling to afford the exorbitant cost of food – a staggering ₦2,500 to ₦3,000 for each bowl, locally known as mudu. Successful harvests will not only feed families but also provide a much-needed economic lifeline.

Goni vividly recalls the hardships endured when humanitarian aid vanished. Today, the promise of self-sufficiency through their crops offers a pathway to a more stable and affordable future.

As Goni tended to his crops, he expressed a heartfelt plea to the government: “We need fertilisers, improved seed varieties, and awareness campaigns on the importance of farming. Most importantly, we need adequate security on our farmlands to see our efforts come to fruition.”

The Wealth Gap

However, Fannami Mustapha, a seasoned farmer from Jere LGA in Borno State, who has been cultivating the land for over 25 years, has a different experience. He engages in both rainy and dry season farming. During the dry season, he grows pepper, cabbage, onion, and tomatoes. When the rainy season arrives, his focus shifts to millet, wheat, and sesame seeds. 

Mustapha observed that farming is no longer an accessible venture for everyone. “Compared to the last two to three years, things have changed. Farming has now become something that, if you are not wealthy enough, you can’t go into it easily,” he explained. 

Rapid population growth has exacerbated the situation, making it increasingly difficult to find and hire land for farming. The challenges extend beyond mere access to land. Mustapha points out that even the more remote farming areas, which were once free, have become perilous.

Lands Under Siege: Broad Struggle of Farmers in Borno State

“As I am talking to you now, those spaces that are a little bit far in the forest, which you can get for free, are not safe anymore. These include areas along Koshobe and Dustman communities,” Mustapha said, highlighting the security risks that have emerged in these once-viable farming locations.

For Bukar Usman, a 35-year-old farmer from Damboa LGA in Borno state, cultivating the land around Ngwada forest has been his occupation for over 15 years. His crops include beans, wheat, maize, and, more recently, rice. Unfortunately, the once-peaceful environment he associated with farming has been disrupted.

“In the past, I farmed with a peaceful mind,” Bukar reminisced. “But now, things have changed.” The once-predictable life of tending to crops has been upended by a relentless insurgency that has transformed the community’s sense of security. 

“The situation in Damboa nowadays is dire,” he continues. “If someone goes to the forest in the morning and returns after a short while, people start wondering if they were chased by insurgents and somehow managed to escape.”

Security in Damboa has deteriorated drastically. Even before the rainy season could properly set in, insurgents issued a chilling ultimatum. “Last month, we were told by the insurgents that this year we wouldn’t engage in any farming,” Bukar recounts.

“This information came to us from our friends on a random day when the insurgents came to them in the forest on motorbikes, attacked them, and even killed one of my friends. Their last words were, ‘None of you will ever engage in any farming activities this year.’”

Fuelled by fear, Bukar and his fellow farmers initially hesitated but later decided to defy the insurgents. “At the beginning of this month, we were stuck and unhappy about the whole situation, but later on, we gave up, and we all started storming into the forest. After some days, when we went out to the farm, we began getting information from our neighbours that the insurgents said we should not exceed certain spaces, and these spaces should just be 3 to 4 kilometres away from Damboa town.”

This restriction is a stark contrast to the past. 

“Before now, our farms were located up to 15 kilometres away from the main Damboa town. We usually got ready, packed our loads, and left our families,” he recounted. “We put tents in the forest and spent days doing what we needed before returning home. Then, from time to time, we checked up on the farmland before finally harvesting our farm produce. These crops  are harvested, I sell them at markets and keep using them with my family until another rainy season properly sets in.”

Despite the severe challenges, Bukar remains resilient. “Amidst all these odds, I advise my fellow farmers not to be reluctant. They shouldn’t stay at home because of the challenges we are facing. They should still come out and farm within the little spaces we are given. If not, the hardship of a hike in prices of foodstuffs will double next year.”

However, Bukar’s resolve is tinged with frustration at the authorities’ lack of support. “The saddest part is that the authorities are not doing anything about it, except for the motivation we get from our community leaders while in the mosque after prayers.”

As he looks toward the uncertain future, Bukar’s determination remains strong, but he is wary. “I really want to do my best this year, but with the way I am seeing things, if security operatives and the government do not wake up and find possible solutions to these problems we are facing, I don’t think I will be able to keep to my word, and hardship might follow suit.”

Lands Under Siege: Broad Struggle of Farmers in Borno State

Dr. Grema Kyari, a security analyst and Founder of the El Kanemi Peace and Development Centre, a Maiduguri-based non-governmental organisation, warns that the insurgency in Borno State has created a dire situation for farmers. 

“Everyone knows that in most towns surrounding Borno State, it’s virtually impossible for someone to venture more than 6 kilometres from their main town to farm peacefully, especially in communities around Damboa, Gwoza, Bama, and Monguno,” Dr Kyari told HumAngle. 

He highlighted a recent attack in Muna, a community close to Maiduguri, where insurgents ambushed farmers, seized their bicycles and kidnapped them for ransom. 

“This is the reality this year, leading to a significant drop in the number of farmers in these areas. People are eager to farm, but the constant threats from insurgents are preventing them,” he continued.

While there are a few relatively safe areas in southern Borno, Dr Kyari emphasised that in the northern parts, such as Guzamala and Abadam, not a single person or a farmer can be found due to frequent attacks. The central part of Borno faces similar threats, with insurgents continuing to disrupt farming activities.

The restriction has led to a dramatic reduction in agricultural output. Dr Kyari pointed out that states like Lagos, which used to rely on Borno for beans and maize, now face dry markets and are struggling to source enough food. 

The World Food Programme projected that about 26.5 million Nigerians could face acute hunger between now and August 2024, a sharp increase from the 18.6 million people who were food insecure at the end of 2023. The UN agency attributes this alarming trend to conflict, insecurity, soaring food prices, and the worsening impact of climate change. 

To address these challenges, Dr Kyari urged the government to provide affordable farming supplies and improve security measures. “The government needs to promote farming by offering improved supplies at reasonable prices. As for security, farmers must collaborate and the government should work sincerely with security operatives. They need to act, not just talk,” he concluded. 

Attempts to get the government’s comment on the security situation affecting farmers, however, have been unsuccessful.

What’s The Government Doing?

In a bid to revive and enhance farming activities in Borno State, the government said it has implemented several initiatives to support local farmers despite ongoing challenges. 

Emmanuel Musa Mshelia, Deputy Director of Agricultural Services at the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, told HumAngle that one significant step has been providing five tractors to each LGA across the state to aid large-scale farming. He added that drivers were recently trained on how to operate the machinery. HumAngle cannot independently verify these claims.

In Southern Borno, the state government launched the supply of fertilisers to farmers at a 50 per cent subsidy in June. Furthermore, a committee has been established to oversee the distribution of free fertilisers provided by the federal government. 

Meanwhile, the government is also working to address the shortage of seedlings, which has become a major challenge for farmers. The price of seedlings has doubled, and in some cases tripled, in recent times. Distribution of seedlings has reportedly begun in Monguno and Baga towns. 

This story was done under the 2024 HumAngle Accountability Fellowship programme with support from the MacArthur Foundation