By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – The Tarayyar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Najeriya (TEKAN), known in the English language as the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria, has warned that persistent insecurity across the country is endangering farming communities and worsening food insecurity, calling on the Federal Government to urgently protect rural areas and support farmers with subsidised inputs.

TEKAN raised the concern in a communiqué issued at the end of its 70th General Assembly held at the Nongo u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar (NKST–URCC) Headquarters in Mkar-Gboko, Benue State, from 6–11 January 2026.

The communiqué issued in Jos, and signed by the outgoing TEKAN President, Rev. Joel Billi, and the General Secretary, Rev. Augustine Elisha, condemned what it described as “continuous murders and destruction of properties” allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen and other terrorist groups, noting that most of the affected communities are agrarian.

It cited the killing of over 200 Christians in Yelwata, Benue State, alongside recent attacks in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State, and recurring violence in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Development Area of Taraba, among others, as incidents that have displaced farmers and crippled food production.

“The Assembly strongly condemns the brutal killings and destruction of farmlands and rural livelihoods, which have forced many farmers to abandon their fields,” the communiqué stated, and warned that continued violence in farming belts could further worsen hunger and economic hardship nationwide.

While commending the Federal Government for recorded improvements in the agricultural sector, TEKAN stressed that insecurity remains a major obstacle to sustainable agricultural growth, and called on the government to intensify efforts to end violence in rural communities and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.

The Assembly also urged the Federal Government to subsidise farming inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides to cushion the impact of dwindling market prices and rising production costs, stressing that targeted support would encourage farmers to return to their farms and boost food production.

“In the face of insecurity and economic pressure, farmers need deliberate government intervention to survive and continue feeding the nation,” the Assembly noted.

Also, TEKAN expressed concern over new tax laws introduced by the Federal Government, describing them as capable of weakening the economic capacity of citizens, including smallholder farmers, and therefore called on the National Assembly and the executive to review the tax reform Act.

“The Assembly is deeply concerned about the new tax laws introduced by the Federal Government. The Assembly views the new tax laws as a deliberate attempt to weaken the economic power of the citizenry through padding. The Assembly calls on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to revisit and review the new tax reform Act,” the communiqué reads.

The Assembly further warned that economic policies perceived as exclusionary could negatively affect Nigeria’s multi-cultural and multi-religious environment, urging inclusive policymaking.

TEKAN, which comprises 15 member denominations with about 35 million members nationwide, concluded by appealing for peace, justice and renewed commitment to safeguarding farming communities as a foundation for national stability and food security.

At the Assembly, new TEKAN leaders were unanimously elected, with Rev. Filibu Musa emerging as President.