A disturbing video circulating online has reignited concerns over the persistent destruction of farmlands in parts of Northern Nigeria, with claims that a group of youths identified as Fulani and other northern youths were caught cutting down hectares of mature corn farms.

The footage, which has generated widespread reactions on social media, appears to show individuals damaging cultivated farmland. However, Southern Report has not independently verified the identities of those involved or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Reacting to the development, journalist Kuna West, who reports from Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States, called on northern state governments, traditional rulers, and emirs to take urgent action against the destruction of agricultural investments.

According to him, regardless of the motives behind such acts, destroying farms only worsens Nigeria's food crisis and deepens economic hardship.

He argued that every hectare of farmland destroyed translates into lower food production, reduced incomes for farmers, higher market prices, and increased dependence on imported food. At a time when millions of Nigerians are already struggling with rising food costs, he said protecting farms should be treated as a national priority.

The recurring conflicts involving farmland destruction, whether linked to land disputes, criminal activities, or communal tensions, continue to threaten agricultural production across several parts of the country. Farmers who invest months of labour and significant financial resources into cultivating crops often suffer devastating losses when their farms are attacked or destroyed.

Kuna West urged authorities not to ignore such incidents, warning that failure to hold perpetrators accountable could encourage further destruction and discourage agricultural investment.

He also appealed to traditional institutions, community leaders, and security agencies to work together in preventing violence and safeguarding farms, stressing that Nigeria cannot achieve food security if those producing food remain under constant threat.

As the country continues to battle inflation and rising food prices, stakeholders say protecting farmers and agricultural land is no longer just a security issue—it is an economic necessity that affects every Nigerian.

Southern Report