…Threats may spread to North-Central, North-West, South-West soon
Nigeria’s food-security ambitions are facing a new and increasingly complex threat as armed groups expand their operations into some of the country’s most important agricultural belts, raising concerns that the centre of gravity of terrorism and organised rural violence may be shifting gradually from the traditional strongholds of Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad basin in Borno State towards the vast Borgu forest belt in Niger State, adjoining areas of North-Central and North-West Nigeria.
Borgu is the largest Local Government Area in Niger State in terms of landmass, which was historically part of Kwara State until it was carved out of Old Kwara State and domiciled in Niger State based on the State creation of August 27, 1991. It’s also an international border area with the Republic of Benin. It connects South-West through Kwara and Oyo States; North-Central through Niger and Kwara States; and North-West through Agwara Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The emerging pattern is significant because the new areas under pressure are not merely remote security theatres. They are home to farming communities that supply food to major markets across Nigeria and lie along important corridors linking the North-West, North-Central and southern parts of the country.
