Terrorism, Insurgency and Food Security - How Insecurity and Conflict has Affected Food Security in Northern Nigeria

Terrorism is viewed as violence perpetrated by individuals within or outside the government that is specifically directed against civilian or government institution as a way of calling attention to perceived, real or imaginary injustices in a clandestine manner. This paper tends to examine the effects terrorism has had on food security in Northern Nigeria. In recent times the high rate of insecurity and communal conflict in the northern part of the country has taken its toll on both food security and economic growth in that region. The high rate of insecurity has affected agricultural output and food processing and delivery in a region which contributes a good percentage of agricultural products in the nation, when being affected affects food security. In this publication, I highlighted how insecurity, terrorism and communal conflict has led to land grabbing, hunger, banditry, food shortages and the rise in internally displaced persons in the region. In the northern part of the country, there are people with diverse religions although Islam remains the predominant religion, which brings about the issues of religious intolerance which to a great extent affects peaceful coexistence amongst the people. This publication also x-rays the role of politics, government and security forces in insecurity and terrorism. The government of the day has been accused of being insensitive to the plight of the people due to how long this issues have lingered ranging from arm deals to political interest and how some certain cabals gain largely from insecurity .The citizens have lost total trust in the government and it has taken its toll on food security and the economy of our great nation. This paper seeks to examine the various effects insecurity and terrorism has on availability, scarcity and the high cost of food in Northern Nigeria. This paper draws data from newspapers, journals, online materials, group discussion forum, published articles and oral interviews. It is analytical, descriptive and expository in its approach