As food insecurity deepens across North-East Nigeria, farmers in conflict-affected areas are battling hunger, displacement, and limited access to land—all while striving to feed their families and communities.

This is according to a press statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was obtained on Monday.
The ICRC also said more than 3.7 million people in the region are currently facing food insecurity. Many of them are farmers who have lost access to their farmlands due to persistent violence and displacement.

Speaking, according to the statement, Modu Umar, a community leader in Dikwa, said, “Right now, we face severe food shortages. Some families are forced to walk long distances every day to collect firewood just to sell and buy food. Farming is the only solution to hunger.”

Also, a 70-year-old farmer, Churi Ibrahim from Gajibo, noted that insecurity has drastically limited movement in rural areas, with many farmers trekking for hours to access their fields under the threat of attack.

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“Some people trek three hours to reach their farms. By the time you reach your farm, you’re already exhausted, and when you return home, it’s late. For a large family like mine, sometimes, we don’t even get one meal a day,” Gajibo said.

Despite the danger and fatigue, many continue farming out of sheer necessity. “Even when you’re afraid, you have to go. If you don’t farm during the rainy season, you’ll have nothing to eat,” said Bintu Konto, a mother of five.

As the lean season begins—a time when food stocks run low and prices rise—households are under growing pressure. “This is when households must start purchasing food, but many conflict-affected families can’t afford much. They’re forced to drastically limit their intake,” Head of the ICRC Office in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, said.

The statement also said, ”The food crisis is also fuelling rising levels of malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women. In response, the ICRC is supporting malnutrition stabilisation centres and conducting community education to help families care for vulnerable children.

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”To build resilience and support long-term recovery, the ICRC has launched an agricultural assistance programme targeting both rainy and dry seasons. This year alone, over 21,000 farming households have received seeds tailored to local conditions, along with planting tools designed to reduce labour and increase efficiency.

”The support includes staple crops like rice and maize as well as vegetables such as tomato and okra, helping to improve dietary diversity and nutrition. Farmers are also receiving training in sustainable agricultural practices to help them maintain production beyond the lifespan of ICRC’s support.

”At the national level, the ICRC has partnered with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to complete repairs on a vital water source. This facility now ensures uninterrupted water supply for NASC’s seed testing and greenhouse operations, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s broader agricultural system.

“Still, the lean season remains a painful period for many farmers who simply cannot grow enough to meet their families’ needs.

“For many of us, it’s not just about farming—it’s about survival,” said Churi Ibrahim. “When you can’t feed your children, every day becomes a struggle.”

Human rights organisation, Global Rights, has demanded a public apology from the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, following what it described as an inciteful and unconstitutional statement directed at former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

The group also called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to publicly condemn Okpebholo’s remarks, as well as an investigation by the Independent National Electoral Commission into the matter.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo must issue a public apology to Mr. Peter Obi and his supporters and withdraw his unconstitutional and inflammatory statement. The governor’s political party and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum should publicly condemn his remarks and call on him to apologise. The dignity of public office demands accountability, not silence.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission must launch a fair and transparent investigation into this matter. This is supported by Section 92(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits political speech that incites violence or injury to ethnic, religious or regional sentiments,” the group stated in a statement by its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, on Monday.

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Baiyewu noted that the governor’s remarks came at a delicate national moment, as the country mourned the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“On Friday, July 18, 2025, Governor Okpebholo publicly declared that Mr. Obi must obtain ‘clearance’ from him before stepping into Edo State. This claim is not only legally absurd but also capable of inciting violence and is unbecoming of a political figure whose behaviour should be above board.

“At a time when the country is reflecting on the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and leaders should be contemplating the legacy they will leave behind, the Governor’s words stand out as an example of poor judgment and disregard for democratic norms,” he stated.

Global Rights reminded the governor that the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed the freedom of movement for every citizen.

“Let us be clear. No Governor in Nigeria has the constitutional authority to restrict the movement of a Nigerian citizen within the country. Mr. Obi, like any Nigerian, is protected by Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees the right to move freely throughout Nigeria and reside in any part thereof,” the statement read.

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The group also pointed out that the governor’s statement carried “a veiled threat of violence,” stressing that “if any harm were to come to Mr. Obi or his supporters, the source of the threat would be clear.”

Baiyewu said while the governor made the remarks during a partisan event, “Such statements must never be excused. Leaders must be careful with their words at all times because careless speech can incite violence, and in a fragile democracy like Nigeria, it can cause real harm.”

Global Rights criticised the silence of influential voices and stakeholders, warning against placing “partisan loyalty over principle.”

“Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive without respect for fundamental freedoms. And every leader must rise to that responsibility,” the statement concluded.

The Police Service Commission has promoted 238 senior officers across various ranks.

Among those promoted are 12 Commissioners of Police who were elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General.

A statement on Monday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said those promoted include officers from state commands, special units, and departments such as Intelligence, Fraud, and Eastern Ports.

He added that the officers include the current Commissioners of Police in Oyo, Jigawa, Taraba, and the FCID Zonal Command in Gombe, among others.

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The statement partly read, “The 12 Commissioners of Police promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police are Johnson Oluwole Adenola, current Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, former Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police and also former Deputy Commissioner Operations, Delta State Command; Ako Benedict Gabriel, Current CP Anti Fraud; Ahmadu Tijani Abdullahi, CP Jigawa state; Emmanuel Adegbola Aina, acting AIG Intelligence, Force Intelligence; Omolara Ibidun Oloruntola; Hassan Abdu Yababet, CP, Police College Jos; Bretet Emmanuel Simon; CP Taraba; Enyinnaya Inonachi Adiogu, CP FCID, Gombe Zonal Command; Aminu Baba Raji; CP Special Unit, FCID, Alagbon; Mohammed Mu’azu Usman, CP Eastern Ports, Portharcourt Festus Chinedu Oko, acting AIG DLS Department, Force Headquarters and Ronke Nurat Okunade, Special Fraud Unit FCID Annex Lagos. ”

He also said 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police were promoted to substantive commissioners.

Ani noted that 27 Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioners.

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The promoted officers cut across command administration units, area commands, and police colleges.

“One Assistant Commissioner was absent for the exercise and was not promoted.

“The commission also approved the promotion of 145 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners, which included General Duty Police Officers and specialists such as Officers from Airwing, Medical Doctors and Dentists, Pharmacists, Lab Scientists, physiotherapists and Nurses. Other are Priests, Airwing and aircraft Engineers,” Ani added.