The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has issued a stern warning to criminal elements targeting farmlands across Plateau State, vowing to deal decisively with any individuals or groups found threatening farmers or sabotaging agricultural activities.

This warning came from the Plateau State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Ishaku Musa, who said the Corps had intensified security operations to safeguard farmers, farmlands, and rural communities in the state ahead of the peak farming season. According to him, the safety of farmers and the protection of agricultural investments remain a top priority, especially as the rainy season reaches its peak and farmers are returning en masse to their fields.

Commandant Musa disclosed that the NSCDC, through its Agro-Rangers unit, has deployed more operatives to farming communities considered vulnerable to attacks by criminal herders, bandits, and vandals. He stressed that any attempt to encroach, harass, or destroy farmlands would be met with stiff resistance and lawful consequences.

“We are sending a clear message to criminal elements be they cattle rustlers, farm destroyers, or violent trespassers that Plateau’s farmlands are not open for lawlessness. The Agro-Rangers are fully mobilized, and our surveillance capabilities are stronger than ever,” Musa said during a media interaction in Jos.

He added that the NSCDC is working in close collaboration with local vigilante groups, community leaders, and traditional rulers to gather intelligence and respond swiftly to any threats in rural and agrarian parts of the state.

The Commandant noted that the Agro-Rangers unit has already begun conducting security patrols in farming belts across Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Riyom, Mangu, and parts of Jos South, areas previously affected by farmer-herder conflicts and farmland invasions. He urged community residents to support the Corps’ operations by reporting any suspicious movement around farms or forest paths.

Musa also used the occasion to call on herders and farmers to embrace peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and respect for boundaries as part of the state’s larger effort to reduce tensions and promote food security. “We cannot afford to let insecurity rob our people of their livelihoods. Farmers must be able to go to their fields without fear. That is non-negotiable,” he stated.

He warned that anyone caught aiding or shielding criminal actors who target farmers or agricultural infrastructure whether through land encroachment, crop destruction, or extortion would face the full weight of the law.

The NSCDC’s renewed commitment in Plateau is being widely welcomed by local farmers who say they have begun to feel safer and more encouraged to continue farming activities despite past threats. A farmer in Bokkos LGA, Danjuma Iliya, expressed appreciation, saying, “With the presence of Agro-Rangers, we can now sleep with our two eyes closed. We hope the government continues to support them.”

The NSCDC has reiterated its readiness to sustain the momentum throughout the farming season and beyond, promising to not only secure farmlands but also ensure justice for any farmer or community harmed in the process of food production.

The Corps called on all stakeholders governments, civil society, traditional institutions, and youth leaders to join hands in making Plateau State a model for agricultural security and rural peace.