Farmers in Yobe have begun relocating to their fields to prevent a rising wave of crop theft as the harvest season begins.
An investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across Damaturu, Gujba, Gashua, and Karasuwa Local Government Areas (LGAs) found that many farmers are now spending 24 hours on their farms to safeguard their produce.
Alhaji Usman Ngari, chairman of the Yobe branch of the All Farmers Association, described the situation as unprecedented. “In my 35 years of commercial farming, crop theft mostly affected sesame and bean farms,” he said.
“What we are witnessing this year, however, is a new normal because thieves now steal all kinds of crops, posing a threat to the livelihood of farmers. The situation has become alarming as many farmers now spend days and nights on farms to protect their crops.”
Ngari attributed the increase in crop theft to the 2024 floods and the prevailing economic difficulties. He noted that some of the thieves might have lost their crops to the recent floods or lack the resources to farm due to financial hardship.
He urged farmers to form groups for farm protection and report suspicious activities to security agencies. Additionally, he called on state security outfits to intensify farm patrols to help address the problem.
One affected farmer, Mr. Paul Ogaji from Mutai village in Gujba LGA, reported that sorghum worth N16 million was stolen from his farm on October 15.
“The thieves came in the night and cut about 80 percent of mature sorghum. They loaded it in a vehicle and fled. By my estimation, they took about 180 bags of the crop. What they left behind was not more than 20 bags. The market value of a bag of sorghum is now about N75,000,” he said.
Another farmer, Babagana Kolo, reported that approximately 10 bags of rice, each valued at N130,000 to N140,000, were stolen from his farm in Dikumari, a Damaturu suburb, on October 28.
Similarly, Madu Aisami, a sesame farmer in Malum Kunu, Karasuwa LGA, reported that more than 20 heaps of harvested sesame stalks, about 20 bags in total, were stolen from his farm.
“They hid under the cover of the night to steal 20 heaps of sesame, which is about 20 bags of the cash crop. This is a huge loss to me as the price of sesame is now between N120,000 and N130,000 per bag,” he said.
Mr. Ahmed Isa, the state commander of the Agro Rangers unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), confirmed the rise in crop theft. He stated that the unit had arrested 15 individuals in connection with these crimes in the 2024 cropping season.
However, he noted that cases were often dropped due to victims withdrawing complaints, often at the insistence of traditional rulers who prefer out-of-station settlements.
The commander advised farmers to take harvested crops home rather than leaving them in the fields, noting that the practice of storing heaps on farmland is no longer secure. He appealed for government support, highlighting the need for additional vehicles and fuel to conduct patrols effectively.
“Fighting crop theft requires sufficient operational vehicles and consistent refuelling of the vehicles for regular patrols. I have only one operational vehicle, and as you can see, its tyres have worn out. I am therefore appealing to all critical stakeholders to support us so that we can serve them better,” Isa said.
