Farmers Warned to Clear the Region
By Onibiyo Segun
(Yagba West, Kogi State) Gunmen killed two Christians – a pastor and a cashew farmer – within 24 hours in Yagba West, heightening alarm across Nigeria’s farming belt and threatening local agriculture.
According to a Facebook post by Egbe Mekun Media, residents said the attackers arrived on about 10 motorcycles, carrying rifles, and retreated into nearby forest corridors once security units arrived.
‘We Ran and Hid‘
Joseph Jones was walking home from his cashew farm along the Saminaka area near Odo‑Eri in Yagba West County Kogi state when gunmen shot and killed him, a resident told TruthNigeria.
“They seemed to know exactly where he would be. It was so fast and terrifying. Farmers have become easy pickings for these terrorists,” Grace Adeyemi told TruthNigeria.
Other residents said they heard one of the attackers shout in English.
“I could hear from afar as one of the terrorists said, ‘This is a warning. We don’t want to see any farmer again,” Samuel Ayodele, a local hunter told TruthNigeria in a chat.
Earlier the same morning, Pastor Gideon had left for his farm, a neighbor told TruthNigeria reporter.
“I was one of the last people to speak with him that morning. We heard gunshots. By the time we got there, it was too late,” Olorunju Adekunle told TruthNigeria.
Both victims were Christians, residents told TruthNigeria.
Violence Spreads into Kwara
The killings in Kogi came as suspected Boko Haram terrorists struck a community in neighboring Kwara State, killing two residents, abducting a trader, and shooting a young girl, according to Sahara Reporters.
Eyewitness video of the Kwara assault circulated online:
Security analysts told TruthNigeria that the Kwara attack fits a pattern of Boko Haram armed raids across rural corridors in north‑central Nigeria, where forests and limited security presence allow attacks before patrols respond.
Daily Trust report described Kogi as increasingly vulnerable to organized raids along farming and transit routes.
Similar attacks in Kwara have forced residents to flee agricultural communities.
Churches and rural settlements in Kogi have also been targeted in recent months.
Residents said attackers strike quickly, shoot sporadically, and retreat toward forest belts before security units arrive, making pursuit difficult.
Violence Trends
In February, at least three farmers have reportedly been killed in Yagba West County, residents said.
In a BusinessDay report from 2020 to 2024, more than1,356 farmers were killed in bandit attacks across northern and central Nigeria, with most deaths in north‑central states, according to security analysts.
In neighboring Benue State thousands of fatalities and attacks on rural settlements have been logged over the past two years, severely affecting farming and livelihoods, according to TruthNigeria and Amnesty International.
Coordinated raids on villages and farmland have displaced hundreds of thousands, depleting agriculture and rural economies.
Food Security and Economic Impact
Nigeria is among the world’s leading producers of raw cashew nuts, and agriculture contributes significantly to national GDP, economists said.
When farmers abandon fields, harvests shrink, and supply chains tighten.
Recent national data show food inflation remains high, with insecurity repeatedly cited as a factor.
“When farmers are unable to work, supply drops. As demand rises, prices follow,” Dr. Gideon Jonathan, an economist based in Lagos told TruthNigeria in a chat.
Pastor Gideon had helped coordinate farming activities and mediate disputes, residents told TruthNigeria.
“With him gone, many will abandon their farms. This could reduce harvests and hurt everyone,” Samuel Ayodele explained.
Cashew harvest season is short, and missed weeks cannot be recovered, farmers said.
Religious and Community Tensions
Both victims were Christians, residents confirmed.
While attacks are often economic, assaults in north‑central Nigeria sometimes inflame ethnic or religious tensions, analysts said.
“We are not just afraid of theft. We are afraid of being targeted,” Famro Adekunle, a local farmer told TruthNigeria.
Authorities have not classified the Yagba West killings as religiously motivated.
Repeated assaults on rural communities in the Middle Belt have displaced thousands and weakened social cohesion, analysts said.
Government Response
The Kogi State Government condemned the killings and pledged intensified patrols in vulnerable communities, officials said.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed investigations are ongoing and said officers are pursuing leads.
Residents said patrols must be sustained rather than reactive.
“We need security presence on farm roads, not just after people die,” Raphael Adeokun, a community leader told TruthNigeria.
In Kwara, authorities launched a joint security operation aimed at dismantling armed networks operating from forest hideouts.
Officials said recent deployments have reduced large-scale raids in some areas, though sporadic attacks continue.
The Human Cost
In Yagba West County, fields lie unattended, evening movement has slowed, and parents warn children to stay close to home, residents said.
Both victims leave behind grieving families, residents said.
“We just want to farm in peace. Is that too much to ask?” Bolaji Odemirin, a resident told TruthNigeria.
Onibiyo Segun reports on terrorism and conflicts for TruthNigeria.
