• Nearly 35 million people in Nigeria projected to face severe food insecurity by 2026.
• Borno State faces catastrophic hunger, with 15,000 people at risk of famine-like conditions.
• Escalating violence from militant groups has deterred agricultural activity and worsened the crisis.
• Funding cuts from major donors, particularly the U.S., threaten emergency food aid programs.

According to a recent report from the World Food Programme (WFP), a surge in armed attacks and ongoing instability in northern Nigeria is pushing the country towards unprecedented levels of hunger. The WFP projects that by 2026, nearly 35 million people could experience severe food insecurity, the highest number recorded since monitoring began. This alarming trend is underpinned by militant activities from groups like the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have escalated their attacks throughout 2025, affecting rural farming communities particularly hard, reports Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

The situation is dire in Borno State, where 15,000 people are projected to face famine-like conditions. This highlights the magnitude of the hunger crisis, as Borno is classified at the highest level of food insecurity (Phase 5). The rural farming areas have seen reduced agricultural activity due to the violence, exacerbating food supply issues in the region, as pointed out by multiple sources, including Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

Furthermore, international funding cuts, especially by the United States, have resulted in a significant reduction of aid to the WFP, which is projected to run out of resources for emergency food assistance by December 2025. This situation leaves millions without support in the coming year, raising concerns about the stability of the region. With more than 300,000 children affected by malnutrition following the scaling down of nutrition programs, the implications could be catastrophic, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.