Concerns Raised Over Food Insecurity in the North East Region Occasioned By Insurgents Activities

 

More than 3.7 million people in North-East Nigeria are facing severe food insecurity as ongoing conflict and displacement continue to restrict access to farmland, according to a statement released by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday.

The crisis is most deeply felt in rural and conflict-affected communities, where farmers are battling hunger, insecurity, and limited access to agricultural land. Many have been displaced or cut off from their traditional farming areas due to violence, forcing them to take extreme measures just to survive.

Local farmers say the situation is becoming unbearable. In Dikwa, community leader Modu Umar reported widespread shortages and desperate coping strategies. “Some families are forced to walk long distances every day to collect firewood just to sell and buy food. Farming is the only solution to hunger,” he said.

In Gajibo, 70-year-old farmer Churi Ibrahim highlighted the danger and exhaustion involved in accessing farmland. “Some people trek three hours to reach their farms. By the time you reach your farm, you’re already exhausted, and when you return home, it’s late,” he said. “For a large family like mine, sometimes, we don’t even get one meal a day.”

Despite the insecurity, farmers like Bintu Konto, a mother of five, say they have no choice but to keep cultivating their fields. “Even when you’re afraid, you have to go. If you don’t farm during the rainy season, you’ll have nothing to eat,” she said.

The ICRC continues to raise concerns about the growing humanitarian needs in the region and calls for increased support to vulnerable communities struggling to survive under the weight of conflict and hunger.

Punch