Escalating extremist violence and widespread instability in northern Nigeria are exacerbating hunger, pushing it to unprecedented crisis levels with thousands facing conditions akin to famine, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned recently.
The UN agency projects that nearly 35 million individuals in northern Nigeria will experience acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, the period between planting and harvest, typically from May to September, when food supplies are scarce.
In Borno state, the region hardest hit by the 16-year extremist insurgency, approximately 15,000 people are predicted to suffer catastrophic hunger or near-famine conditions, according to the WFP.
The long-standing conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and the displacement of about two million people in the northeast, with repercussions extending into neighboring countries.
Beyond the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, Nigeria is also grappling with violence perpetrated by armed groups, often labeled as “bandits,” in the central and northwestern regions, who conduct raids on communities, commit killings, and engage in kidnappings for ransom.
Just in the past week, Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, witnessed three large-scale kidnappings.
Over 300 students and educators were abducted from a Catholic educational institution in Niger state, 25 female Muslim secondary school students were seized in the neighboring Kebbi state, and 38 worshippers were taken from a church during a service broadcast online in Kwara State.
Although the intensity of Nigeria’s insurgency had diminished since its peak around 2015, attacks have surged since the beginning of the year due to several converging factors, including the resurgence of extremist groups and the overextension of security forces.
The period from May to September, between planting and harvest, typically sees people, especially those in rural regions, with minimal food reserves.
While traditionally farmers would purchase food, soaring inflation resulting from an economic downturn has left many unable to afford it.
Declining International Assistance
The WFP’s primary financial contributor is the United States, which, under the previous administration, reduced foreign aid allocations, including those to UN entities.
Other significant donors, including certain European nations, have also curtailed their humanitarian budgets.
Close to one million individuals rely on WFP’s food assistance in northeastern Nigeria, and the UN organization reports that funding deficits have compelled it to begin scaling down nutrition initiatives in July.
Of the 500 nutrition centers operated by the WFP in northeast Nigeria, 150 were closed at the end of July due to funding limitations, endangering over 300,000 children and escalating malnutrition rates from “serious” to “critical” levels in the third quarter of the year.
Extremist attacks have grown more frequent this year, with the Al-Qaeda affiliate, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), claiming responsibility for its inaugural assault in Nigeria in late July.
“Communities are facing immense strain from repeated attacks and economic pressures,” stated WFP’s representative in Nigeria, David Stevenson.
“Families are being driven closer to the brink, and the demand for support is increasing.”
The West African nation is currently experiencing a severe economic crisis as President Bola Tinubu implements reforms that have garnered praise from the IMF but have also led to a sharp rise in the cost of living.
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