Locust swarm reaches Nigeria

ONE of the worst locust infestations to hit West Africa in 15 years has reached northern Nigeria, where authorities are battling the swarms with insecticide sprayed from crop-dusting airplanes.

The swarms moving in from North Africa have begun to invade the northwestern Nigerian states of Sokoto and Zamfara, threatening the livelihoods of subsistence farmers.

“We have started spraying insecticides to curb the menace. We leased an aircraft for this purpose,” said Sokoto state spokesman Mustapha Shehu.