A civil society and pressure group, non-profit and anti-corruption organization, Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI) has lauded and commended the Agro-Rangers Initiative, enhanced by the present Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, across the country to boost food security in order to make food available and allow farmers to go about their business in their respective farmlands with the full support and escorts of the Agro-Rangers under the guidance of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

This has been made possible by the deployment of more officers and men to most parts of the North to assist in the protection of farmers to and from their farmlands to plant crops and harvest them when the need arises. And to also be able to ferry cash crops to markets across their localities, to enhance food distribution and security.

The NSCDC has been commended also for its efforts in securing the country’s mining sector – a vital component of Nigeria’s economy. The corps has been working assiduously to curb the activities of illegal miners across the length and breadth of the country that have been undermining the sector’s potentials, and posing threats to the national security as a result of their nefarious activities. As majority of the illegal miners arrested are foreign nationals from China who have existing relationship with eminent Nigerians.

The corps has been very formidable in dislodging illegal miners conducting surveillance and arresting the illegality, thereby promoting economic growth and saves the country massive revenue loss. The creation of the NSCDC Special Mines Marshals, to combat the menace of illegal mining in the country, is a welcome development endorsed by the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians. This is because, it has reduced the activities of illegal miners, thereby increasing the revenue base accruing to the country, and also increasing investors’ confidence in the mineral sector like never before seen few years back.

A press release signed by the CWAI Executive Secretary and Senior Research Fellow, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, stated that the Federal Government has deployed over 1,000 agro-rangers in the beginning of the year precisely January 2024. This deployment was aimed at protecting farms as a result which most states can now boast of over 300 trained agro-rangers Special Forces to safeguard agricultural investments and mediate in conflicts between farmers and herders.

This is because both Benue and Borno states, respectively, are witnessing challenges resulting from banditry and a lot of fatalities therein.

This is even as Nigerians had predicted days ahead that it would be difficult as a result of food inflation crisis which was blamed on insecurity of farmers going to their farmlands, as these bandits continue to hinder farming and ravage anything on sight.

The release also emphasized that during the second quarter of this year, the Federal Government deployed another 10,000 agro-rangers to 19 northern states to combat insecurity in farms and boost agro-allied investments and mitigate food security across the country.

This move was and still is to curtail insecurity across the food producing belt in the country, which had negatively impacted on food production in recent times. The principal aim is for the agro-rangers to continuously safeguard farmlands and protect farmers from escalating attacks; mediate conflicts and prevent malicious destructions of farmlands. This is inasmuch as widespread insecurity, particularly in the northern region, has forced farmers to abandon their lands, resulting in a significant decrease in food production and contributing to the rising food prices nationwide. Reports have it, that about 175 farmers have lost their lives to bandit attacks, with over 130 fatalities recorded. This is even as farmers cannot go to their farms, unless they are escorted and protected by the agro-rangers for security and safety of their lives and farmlands.

Accordingly, of recent, the NSCDC management made sure that each state of the federation must have a well-trained, organized and diligently coordinated agro-rangers squad. This is even as some states are grappling with illegal mining, and some dealing with illicit petroleum products.This has been proven to have led the management of the Corps to partner and collaborate with international organizations to bolster efforts in safeguarding the agro-allied investments. This is still aimed at boosting the mining sector, vis-à-vis its avowed efforts to curb the menace of illegal mining and create a safe mining environment for all its citizenry.

The NSCDC, in partnership with the Federal Government, has also deployed more than 350 additional marshals, barely three months after the first batch of 2,220 mining marshals were inaugurated in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Federal Government, in its statement recently, noted that the deployment of the 350 additional operatives underscores its commitment to reforming the mining sector and generating more revenue for the country. These efforts, the FG assured, will reduce illegal mineral haulage and the activities of unlicensed operators nationwide who are, round the clock, stealing Nigeria’s natural resources, that are not captured by the Bureau of Statistics, and the ministry in the assumed statistics of the Federal Government and its agencies.
Accordingly, since the inauguration of the marshals, about 200 illegal mining suspects have been arrested with over 135 prosecutions. The marshals have also confiscated illegally mined resources and forfeited to the Federal Government. This marshals has saved the federal government a lot revenues in the last few months and needs our encouragement to be able to carry-out this national task of protecting our natural resources.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development Mr Dele Alake, during their passing out parade asserted that “today’s passing out parade of the second batch will further increase our numbers, ensuring wider coverage and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the squad. We aim to intensify sector sanitization and boost investors’ confidence, leading to increased investments and development in the mining industry.”
In his remakes the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, on the auspicious event, revealed that “the new operatives underwent an intensive 8-weeks training programme, preparing them to strengthen the mining marshals’ operations and intensify efforts against illegal miners nationwide.”
He further added that this was achieved as a result of “collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Ministry of Sold Minerals Development.” He also stressed the need for continuous training and deployments to ensure comprehensive coverage of the country’s vast mining areas to maximize the benefits derived from solid minerals resources and ensure that “our nation reaps the full benefits of its solid minerals for economic development”.
CWAI reiterates that this has become necessary, because the operation of the bandits has made governance in few states unbearable and heightened insecurity as a result of the activities of these hoodlums and thieves. Therefore, the deployment of agro-rangers to prevent incessant clashes of herders and farmers during the harvesting season and ensure a peaceful harvests season, and to enforce the restriction of cattle movements and migration order have become inevitable, as the deployment is in line with the corps’ mission of developing structures and strategies that will contribute to the national security.
CWAI therefore emphasizes the importance of both the agro-rangers and mining marshals, even as the CSO has applauded the NSCDC for the initiatives spearheaded by the present management, including all other performance indices and milestones so far achieved. This is principally the reason why CWAI says it has given endorsement to the marching orders spearheaded by the CG to farmers to report any suspicious activity or security threats to the nearest security post and to avoid taking matters into their hands and urge farmers and herders to sheathe their swords and embrace peace and employ the use of modern equipment in agriculture and animal husbandry. This, is perhaps, aimed at reducing the incidents of clashes which have hitherto led to the loss of lives, cattle and destruction of farmlands across the country. This is now an assurance that the NSCDC will not rest on its oars until the country is completely free from any form of insecurity.
CWAI further notes that the ago-rangers initiative is a grassroots-based approach and solution in response to bringing under control the unfortunate clashes, killings and wanton destruction of lives and property in the country.
The nation is further assured, because “these officers and men have been trained to intervene in clashes between farmers/villagers and herdsmen as well as checkmate the activities and excesses of all the parties concerned to ensure peaceful co-existence for the country’s rapid growth and development.”
The statement also acknowledged that the scheme was designed to give physical protection to agro-allied investments both (local and foreign) which includes farmlands, livestock, silos, ranches and everything that is related to the nation’s agricultural economy, as well as the protection of the citizenry from kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the society and to boost Nigeria’s food security and local industries for employment opportunities to the youthful population.
In view of the foregoing, CWAI hereby calls on the Federal Government to adequately fund this initiative through training and re-training of the officers, including the building and enhancement of capacity development of the agro-rangers scheme and mining marshals so as to boost their productivity, self-esteem and manpower development.
The populist approach of this initiative will assist to fish out hoodlums, rustlers, bandits and other bad eggs within a given community to rid their domain/communities of any unwarranted group operation against the beliefs and peaceful co-existence of such area.
CWAI adds that the agro-rangers officers and mining marshals are fully conscious of their duties as they have been thoroughly trained to withstand any eventualities and are focused on the tasks ahead. This is a sealed assurance to both present and potential farmers in crops, animal production and other agricultural practitioners, that the safety and security of their lives and products, as due process, is being followed and there are no financial implications whatsoever.
As Executive Secretary, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele amply captures that “CWAI will continue to support the corps in its efforts to tackle bandits, herders and illegal miners and promote a safe and secure environment for all.” The organization further adds that “the efforts of the NSCDC in playing a critical role in securing the mining sector and protection of farmlands and agro-allied investments are in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is aimed at diversifying the economy and promoting economic growth for the nation.