Govt cannot control food prices – Zamfara farmers lament insecurity, bandits’ levies

Complaints about the exorbitant prices of food persist in Zamfara State, particularly in markets, where both sellers and buyers express frustration over the scarcity of commodities.

According to reports from DAILY POST, many food traders are unable to venture into villages to purchase goods due to fears of bandit attacks, while numerous farmers are hesitant to return to their fields. Usman Isah, a Zamfara resident, informed our correspondent that in some villages, bandits impose levies on farmers before granting them access to their farms, thereby increasing production costs.

Another farmer, Ibrahim Yahaya, emphasized that neither the Federal nor State Governments can dictate food prices since they are not involved in production; only the producers can determine the cost of farming and the prices of their produce. He argued that government promises to lower food prices are insincere unless they address banditry and provide farming inputs to farmers.

Yahaya maintained that food prices will continue to rise until both levels of government take decisive action to combat banditry and other criminal activities nationwide.

Lawali Ishiaku pointed out that the government’s failure to end insecurity suggests ulterior motives, as individuals with vested interests in banditry are unlikely to relinquish their profitable ventures easily. He urged the government to investigate whether terrorists operate independently or receive backing from influential figures, as many cannot afford the weaponry required for their operations.

Ishiaku urged authorities not to shield anyone from accountability, stressing that ordinary Nigerians bear the brunt of the country’s challenges. He lamented that if Nigeria’s independence fighters could witness the current state of affairs, they would be dismayed by the country’s deterioration.

Ishiaku called on both the federal and state governments to take immediate action to address the security and economic crises, asserting that now is the opportune moment to rectify past mistakes.