Fish out Killers of 43 farmers to avert hunger in Nigeria, NAWOJ urges

By Correspondent in Jalingo

The recent killing of 43 rice farmers in Borno state is a great threat to food security in Nigeria and the relevant authorities must arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them to avert hunger as well as serve as deterrent to others in their shoe.

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), gave the advice on Saturday in a statement signed by its Vice President, Zone E, Mrs Dorcas Philemon and Zonal Secretary, Mrs Tani Akas in Jalingo.

The association expressed worry that if the perpetrators of such heinous crime were not brought to justice, farmers would stay away from farms and hunger would take the centre stage in the country.

“We call on the government and security agents to ensure that the killers of Borno rice farmers are arrested and prosecuted so as to give other farmers in the country a sense of security to continue to feed the nation.

“Failure to arrest and prosecute such criminals will leave fears in the minds of other farmers across the country which will certainly threaten food security,” NAWOJ stated.

The association also decried the escalation of terrorist attacks in the north-east, adding that the increase in the loss of lives and destruction of property in the region, due to insecurity, was alarming and must be tackled head long by the government and all stakeholders.

“We observe that the attack by Boko Haram terrorists in the subregion is taking a new dimension; shifting from Kidnapping of women and children to killing of innocent souls, even on their farms,” it added.

While condoling with the government and people of Borno state as well as the entire North-East and farmers over the unfortunate incident, NAWOJ prayed God to grand the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.