Amid growing concern over food scarcity in Nigeria, prominent Methodist Bishop, Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, has issued a stern warning that the nation faces an escalating food crisis if farmer-herder conflicts continue unchecked across several states. He criticized the federal government’s inadequate response, which he said has emboldened violent herders and deepened insecurity in rural communities.
Bishop Onuoha made the remarks on Sunday while reacting to a series of deadly clashes and destruction of farmland in states such as Plateau, Benue, Enugu, and Ondo. According to the cleric, the persistent violence—often involving armed herders invading agricultural settlements—has led to the uprooting of crops, displacement of farmers, and mounting hunger in rural regions.
“The failure of the federal government to holistically address this crisis has further emboldened recalcitrant herders to continue unleashing mayhem in various parts of the country,” Onuoha said. “We are witnessing a situation where cassava tubers are allegedly being uprooted and fed to cattle. This is nothing short of economic sabotage and a direct path to famine.”
A Growing National Concern
The farmer-herder conflict, which has simmered for years, has intensified recently due to population growth, climate change, desertification, and land pressure. In many areas, violent encounters between nomadic herders and local farmers have resulted in deaths, forced displacement, and destruction of livelihoods.
While the federal government has launched various initiatives in the past—such as grazing reserves and rural security deployments—critics like Bishop Onuoha argue that these measures are either too slow or poorly implemented.
“If the federal government is sincere about ensuring food availability, the issue of farmer-herder clashes should not be treated with kid gloves,” Onuoha stated emphatically. “Failure to speak in tandem with commensurate punishment for those hiding under the guise of herders has led to further massacres of farmers and widespread destruction of farmlands.”
Season of Fear and Hunger
The Bishop further stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that Nigeria is now in its critical farming season. “Now is the time when farmers should be planting and preparing for harvest later in the year,” he said. “But instead, many Nigerians are afraid to venture into farming for fear of attacks.”
Farmers in central and southeastern Nigeria have repeatedly raised alarms about the threat posed by armed herdsmen who invade farmland, destroy crops, and, in some cases, attack communities. The lack of consistent legal consequences, Onuoha noted, has created an atmosphere of impunity.
“Farming is the backbone of our economy and food supply,” he said. “But people can’t plant, they can’t harvest, and they can’t even return to their lands. What do we expect to eat in the coming months?”
Calls for Stronger Security Response
In his Sunday message, Bishop Onuoha urged the country’s security agencies to intensify efforts in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for attacks under the guise of herding.
“There are criminal elements hiding among the herders, using that identity to commit heinous crimes. Our security agencies must be brave enough to separate the wheat from the chaff,” he said.
Onuoha called for surveillance drones, community-based intelligence networks, and transparent prosecution of culprits. “We cannot secure our food chain without first securing our farmers,” he added.
A Threat to National Stability
The humanitarian and economic costs of the ongoing conflict are staggering. According to recent reports from humanitarian organizations, thousands of people have been displaced across Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, and farmlands in at least a dozen local government areas remain abandoned due to insecurity.
Bishop Onuoha warned that the ripple effects will soon be felt nationwide if the trend continues. “We are not just talking about rural areas,” he noted. “Urban food prices are already surging because supply is shrinking. If farms remain empty and food keeps disappearing, we are staring at a full-blown national emergency.”
He appealed to policymakers to take a multi-dimensional approach that includes robust law enforcement, land use reforms, dialogue with herding communities, and long-term agricultural support.
A Call for Moral Leadership
Beyond the call for security reforms, Bishop Onuoha appealed to political leaders, religious figures, and civil society to speak out more boldly and consistently against the crisis.
“We cannot be silent when our people are starving and dying. Silence is complicity,” he said. “It is time for all sectors of society—government, churches, mosques, traditional rulers, and media—to collectively denounce these crimes and demand immediate action.”
Looking Ahead
As the farming season progresses, the urgency for resolution continues to mount. With Nigeria already grappling with inflation, currency instability, and dwindling oil revenues, food security is emerging as a flashpoint issue with significant political implications.
Bishop Onuoha’s warning adds to the chorus of voices urging the government to prioritize agricultural safety and rural peace. “The time to act is now,” he concluded. “Before the rains end and the hunger deepens.”
