By Michael Dibie
Small scale women farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria say they welcome deployment of troops to farm lands in the north, the farmers say the presence of armed soldiers across farms will make them work comfortably.
Coordinator, small scale women farmers, FCT, Comfort Sunday say apart from the challenge of land, one of the biggest issues they face is insecurity, adding that the move by the government will help solve the issue of food crisis in Nigeria
“It will really help us because we need that, so we need that to support us in our farms because if they are there, we will work comfortably with the hope that somebody is beside you and you won’t be afraid, she said.
“I can’t go to my farm alone except if we go in groups because of kidnappers and Fulani, so it will be good if the government can do that, said another farmer, Abigail Bako.
However, a security expert, Dr Jonathan Isaac says the plan would undermines the nation’s national security. According to him, every security outfit in Nigeria has a mandate, so going to the point of deploying armed soldiers across farms sounds ridiculous.
“So going to the ridiculous point of deploying arm forces to farm lands, shows that we do not understand the concept of National security. The security agencies over the years have been over stretched, he added.
Jonathan also reiterated that it would not help solve the food crisis situation the country is presently facing.
“So we can’t say the deployment is going to help but rather begin to revisit some of the policies that can bring in National development and policies that will help the ordinary Nigerians, Jonathan said.
According to a local report, over 332 farmers were killed across the country this year and women accounts for 50% of farmers in Nigeria.