Urgent Need for Legislative Oversight on the Proposed Deployment of 11,000 NSCDC Agro-Rangers to Protect Farmers

Abstract

Nigeria’s agricultural sector continues to face significant security threats from banditry, insurgency, and criminal violence, particularly in rural farming communities. In 2025, multiple attacks across states, including Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Niger, resulted in the deaths and kidnappings of farmers, disrupting farming activities and threatening national food security. Notably, in January 2025, at least 40 farmers were reportedly killed near Lake Chad by insurgents linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP. These incidents underscore the vulnerability of rural communities and the ongoing risk to agricultural production. In response, the Federal Government established the NSCDC Agro-Rangers Programme in 2016 to protect farmers and agricultural investments, initially focusing on conflict-affected areas such as Borno State. By 2024, approximately 10,000 Agro-Rangers had been deployed nationwide, but attacks persisted in many locations, with some farmers abandoning their lands despite the programme. Recently, the NSCDC announced plans to deploy 11,000 Agro-Rangers nationwide ahead of the 2026 farming season. While this reflects recognition of the threats facing farmers, questions remain regarding the operational effectiveness, strategic distribution, and coordination of the deployment with other security agencies. The issues raised include whether the proposed deployment differs from previous operations; the adequacy of coverage in high-risk areas; clarity on operational coordination with the Nigerian Army, Police, and community-based security structures; and transparency regarding funding, logistics, and personnel readiness. Without addressing these structural and operational gaps, repeated deployments risk being symbolic rather than substantively improving farmer security. Given the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight mandate over security institutions and national development sectors, legislative intervention is necessary to ensure protection of national food security, evaluate the effectiveness of the Agro-Rangers Programme, enforce accountability in security policy implementation, and strengthen rural security governance. To address these issues, the National Assembly, through its Committees on Interior, National Security and Intelligence, Agriculture, and Police Affairs, is respectfully urged to: 1. Conduct a joint oversight review of the Agro-Rangers Programme since its establishment in 2016 to assess personnel deployment, operational coverage across states, and measurable outcomes in reducing attacks on farmers. 2. Invite NSCDC leadership to provide a detailed briefing on the proposed deployment of 11,000 Agro-Rangers, including criteria for selecting priority farming areas, operational mandates, and rules of engagement. 3. Request clarification from NSCDC on how Agro-Rangers operations will be coordinated with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and state or community-based security structures. 4. Require NSCDC to provide details on funding allocations, logistics, equipment, mobility support, training standards, and overall operational readiness of personnel. Robust legislative oversight will ensure that the Agro-Rangers Programme is strategically implemented, adequately resourced, properly coordinated, and capable of providing meaningful protection to farmers and rural communities.