Some farmers in Yobe State have relocated to their farms to guard against soaring incidents of farm produce theft.
Investigation in Damaturu, Gujba, Gashua and Karasuwa LGAs revealed that farmers now spend 24 hours on their farms to watch over their crops as harvest commences.
Alhaji Usman Ngari, the Yobe branch chairman of the farmers’ association said the upsurge in crop theft was unprecedented.
“In my 35 years of commercial farming, crop theft mostly affected sesame and beans farms.
“What we are witnessing this year, however, is a new problem because thieves now steal all kinds of crops, posing a threat to the livelihood of farmers.
“The situation has become alarming as many farmers now spend days and nights on farms to protect their crops.”
Ngari blamed the spate of crop theft on the devastating effects of the 2024 floods and prevailing harsh economic realities.
He said some of those engaged in the thefts might have lost their crops to the recent devastating floods or simply do not have the money to farm due to the current hardship.
The chairman advised farmers to form groups to protect their farms and report suspected persons to security agencies.
He appealed to security outfits in the state to intensify farm patrols as part of measures to contain the problem.
Mr Paul Ogaji, a farmer in Mutai village of Gujba LGA, claimed that N16m worth of sorghum was stolen from his farm on Oct 15.
“The thieves came in the night and cut about 80 percent of mature sorghum. They loaded it in a vehicle and fled.
“By my estimation, they took about 180 bags of the crop. What they left behind was not more than 20 bags.
“The market value of a bag of sorghum is now about N75,000,” he said.
Another farmer, Babagana Kolo, said on Oct 28, about 10 bags of rice were stolen from his farm at Dikumari, a suburb of Damaturu. (NAN)