A surge in militant attacks across northern Nigeria is pushing food insecurity to unprecedented levels, with the World Food Programme (WFP) warning that 35 million people could face severe hunger by 2026 the highest figure ever recorded in the country. The WFP report, released Tuesday, highlights Borno state as the epicenter of the crisis, predicting at least 15,000 residents could experience catastrophic hunger, classified as Phase 5 on the agency’s scale the same level seen in Gaza and Sudan.
“Rural farming communities in northern Nigeria are experiencing the most severe hunger crisis in a decade,” the WFP said. Attacks by armed groups have forced many farmers to abandon their land, further reducing food production. In recent weeks, kidnappings have intensified the crisis. On November 21, over 300 students and 12 teachers were abducted from a school in Niger state, just days after 25 children were taken in neighboring Kebbi state. The al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin claimed responsibility for its first attack in Nigeria in October, joining numerous armed groups operating in the region.
The crisis has been worsened by cuts to international aid. U.S. President Donald Trump’s reduction of funding to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has forced the WFP to scale back food assistance, leaving millions at risk. The WFP warned that without renewed funding, emergency food and nutrition support could run out by December, leaving millions of Nigerians without aid in 2026. “Without confirmed funding, millions will be left without support, fueling instability and deepening a crisis the world cannot ignore,” the agency said. Northern Nigeria, already reeling from insecurity, faces a perilous year ahead as hunger and violence continue to intertwine.
