Some farmers in Yobe have relocated to their farms to guard against soaring incidents of farm produce theft.

Investigations in Damaturu, Gujba, Gashua and Karasuwa Local Government Areas (LGAs) revealed that farmers now spend 24 hours on their farms to watch over their crops as harvest commences.

Usman Ngari, the Yobe branch chairman of the All Farmers Association, said that the upsurge in crop theft was unprecedented.

“In my 35 years of commercial farming, crop theft mostly affected sesame and bean farms.

“What we are witnessing this year, however, is a new normal 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,” he said.

Mr Ngari blamed the spate of crop theft on the devastating effects of the 2024 floods and harsh economic realities.

He said some of those engaged in the stealing 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.

Paul Ogaji, a farmer in Mutai village of Gujba LGA, claimed that N16 million worth of sorghum was stolen from his farm on October 15.

“The thieves came in the night and cut about 80 per cent 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 that on October 28, approximately 10 bags of rice were stolen from his farm at Dikumari, a suburb of Damaturu.

According to him, each bag of rice goes for between N130,000 and N140,000.

Madu Aisami, a sesame farmer in Malum Kunu in Karasuwa LGA, said that more than 20 heaps of harvested sesame stalks were stolen from his farm recently.

“They hid under the cover of the night to steal 20 heaps of sesame, which is about 20 bags of the cash crop.

“ This is a huge loss to me as the price of sesame is now between 120,000 and 130,000 per bag,” he said.

When contacted, Ahmed Isa, state commander, Agro Rangers unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), confirmed the upsurge in crop theft.

He said that the unit had so far arrested 15 persons in connection with the crime in the 2024 cropping season.

Mr Isa, however, said the suspects were sadly released after their victims voluntarily withdrew the cases.

“We are facing a challenge whereby crop theft victims backed by traditional rulers do not support the prosecution of offenders.

“There is little you can do in a situation where the traditional rulers insist on settling the matter outside the station, adding that the corps had so far recovered and handed over 20 measures of rice and one bag of guinea corn to their owners.”

The commander advised farmers to always take harvested produce home, saying the age-long practice of keeping heaps of grain on farmlands was no longer safe.

He appealed to the government at all levels to support the unit with logistics to combat crop theft.

“Fighting crop theft requires sufficient operational vehicles and consistent refuelling of the vehicles for regular patrols.

“I have only one operational vehicle and as you can see, its tyres have worn out.

“ I am therefore appealing to all critical stakeholders to support us so that we can serve them better,” Mr Isa said.

(NAN)