Nigeria Is No Stranger to Insecurity — And Now It’s Starving the Nation
Since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999, the country has faced numerous security challenges — from Boko Haram to bandit groups, Lakurawa, and the so-called Unknown Gunmen, who have terrorized communities and claimed innocent lives for over 15 years.
Under the administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, about 200 girls were kidnapped from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. Boko Haram claimed responsibility. A decade later, about 81 girls are still missing, despite the government's efforts to rescue the others.
But insecurity is more than just statistics or news headlines — it affects every part of life. It impacts education, business, the economy, and most critically — food production.
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Education Under Threat
In the North, education has suffered due to school kidnappings and suicide bombings. Boko Haram, whose name literally means “Western education is forbidden,” has pushed many children — especially girls — out of school. Thankfully, Boko Haram’s strength seems to be declining, though that may simply be because new groups have emerged to fill the vacuum.
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Insecurity Scares Off Investors
Nigeria operates a capitalist economy where profit is king. But who would invest in a business that could be destroyed in a moment by violence? Insecurity limits both foreign and local investment, crippling opportunities in already struggling communities.
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A Nation at Risk of Hunger
But perhaps the most alarming impact is on food production. As the saying goes, “A hungry man is an angry man.”
Recent attacks on Benue and Plateau States appear targeted at the nation’s food systems. Farmers now fear going to their farms. Those who take the risk may never return. In Benue — famously called the "Food Basket of the Nation" — this is nothing short of a crisis.
Benue is Nigeria’s top producer of yam. It also grows rice, soybeans, and vegetables. With insecurity, fewer people farm. Those who do face another hurdle — transporting produce on dangerous roads. Farmers headed for cities like Lagos risk robbery, kidnapping, or worse.
Even if a farmer and their goods make it safely, prices rise. Why? Because the cost of that yam now includes danger, fear, and survival. The result? Skyrocketing prices for the final consumer.
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Jos: From Peace to Panic
Jos, known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism,” has sadly known little peace in recent years. In a recent attack in Bokkos community, Plateau State, over 50 people were killed.
Yet, Jos remains a major food-producing zone. Thanks to its cool climate, Jos leads in Irish potatoes, apples, and strawberries — crops that grow in few other parts of Nigeria. But how can red, juicy strawberries feed a nation when they can’t even leave the farm?
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Food Insecurity Is the Real Threat
Insecurity doesn’t just claim lives. It displaces communities, creates refugees in their own land, and threatens food security. It turns fertile land into ghost towns. It puts fear in the hearts of those who just want to grow food and feed their children.
The biggest victims of this crisis are not just farmers — it’s every Nigerian who sits down to eat.
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