The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Plateau State has called for the full cooperation of traditional rulers, community leaders, and rural dwellers with the newly deployed Agro-Rangers operatives to enhance the protection of farmlands and agricultural communities across the state.

The call was made by the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Ishaku Musa, during an engagement with stakeholders in Jos. He emphasized the urgent need for collective efforts to safeguard food security and rural peace, particularly in areas prone to herder-farmer conflicts and criminal activities.

According to Commandant Musa, the Agro-Rangers are a specialized unit trained not only in security operations but also in community engagement and conflict resolution. He said the operatives were strategically deployed to protect farmers, prevent destruction of crops, and support peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoral communities.

“The Agro-Rangers are not here to police the people but to protect the nation’s food security. Their job is to ensure that no farmer abandons his land due to fear. But we cannot succeed without the trust, cooperation, and grassroots intelligence from our traditional institutions and local communities,” Musa said.

He noted that over the past few years, insecurity had taken a severe toll on Plateau’s agricultural output, with several farmers either displaced or too frightened to access their farmlands. He described the deployment of Agro-Rangers as a timely intervention by the Federal Government and the NSCDC to ensure farmers feel safe returning to their fields.

“We have witnessed the destruction of farmlands, forceful ejection of farmers, and massive economic losses. The Agro-Rangers are specially trained to mediate, intervene and ensure peaceful co-existence so that farmers can go to their farms and return safely,” the Commandant stated.

Musa further highlighted the pivotal role traditional rulers play in fostering community acceptance and cooperation. He urged monarchs to use their influence to educate their people on the importance of supporting the Agro-Rangers initiative.

“Without the traditional rulers and community elders, we cannot penetrate the villages effectively. You know your people, you know the terrain, and you are trusted. If you stand with us, the people will follow,” he said.

He also called on youth groups, local vigilantes, and farmers’ associations to partner with the Agro-Rangers, noting that intelligence gathering, early warning, and rapid conflict resolution are best achieved through community involvement.

“The Agro-Rangers are not trigger-happy soldiers; they are civil defenders with empathy, trained in conflict resolution and community engagement,” he added. “We are not here to replace community structures. We are here to complement them. We want to work with the hunters, the youth leaders, the farmers’ unions, and the Fulani herders. Everyone must be on the same page.”

Commandant Musa warned that unless collective efforts are made to support farmers and secure rural areas, Plateau State and Nigeria at large could face a worsening food crisis. He said the Agro-Rangers’ mission goes beyond responding to threats; it is about preventing them before they happen and ensuring stable food production.

“Without security, there is no farming. Without farming, there is no food. Without food, there is no peace. We must break this chain of insecurity through unity and trust. The survival of Plateau’s agricultural future depends on our ability to protect the farms today,” he said.

He also urged state and local governments, civil society organizations, and development partners to support the Agro-Rangers with logistics and community awareness programs to deepen their impact.

Commandant Musa concluded with a strong appeal to all stakeholders to embrace the Agro-Rangers initiative as a people-focused solution designed to restore dignity, security, and productivity to farming communities.

“Let us not wait for another conflict before we act. Let us build the peace now on the farms, in our villages, and in our hearts,” he said.