The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the federal government to adopt a more proactive policy for the protection of Nigerian farmers.
The commission, which was reacting to the massacre of many rice farmers in Borno state by Boko Haram a few days ago, appealed to the government to endeavour to meet its prime objective of protection of lives and properties of Nigerians, especially those living within the conflict regions.
The executive secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, who made the call in Abuja while reacting to the killings of over 40 farmers in Borno state, described it as one killing too many even as he lamented that it was not only a great loss to the people of Borno state but the entire country.
He said the commission was heartbroken that people were killed while trying to fend for themselves, adding that the incidence would discourage farmers from engaging in their business.
“There is an urgent need for the government to redouble its effort in providing protection for the citizens especially those who are unfortunate to find themselves in the volatile areas of the North-east that has been under siege of the operations of the insurgents,” he said.
Ojukwu stated that the commission receives weekly reports from its monitoring team in the North-east about the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
He said the reports indicate that there was an urgent need for the federal government to provide more security in these states in order to protect the IDPs and many others from Boko Haram and herdsmen’s rampage.
