Warning of Food Insecurity in Nigeria
The World Food Program (WFP), which is part of the United Nations, issued a warning this week stating that as many as 35 million people in Nigeria might experience “severe food insecurity” next year due to an ongoing crisis marked by unprecedented levels of hunger in certain regions.
The WFP attributed this looming famine to several factors, including violence from rebel groups and economic difficulties. While specific jihadist organizations were named, the report notably did not address the targeted violence against the country’s indigenous Christian communities. Additionally, the WFP did not include the Fulani herdsmen—who are involved in significant violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt—in its analysis of the situation, despite these attacks being among the deadliest.
In a press release, the WFP noted a rise in insecurity across northern Nigeria and highlighted that this part of the country is witnessing the most severe hunger crisis in a decade. It estimated that about 6 million individuals in the north might confront critical levels of hunger during the famine season of mid-2026, particularly in conflict-ridden states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. Alarmingly, around 15,000 people in Borno state could face catastrophic hunger, conditions resembling famine.
According to the WFP, this forecast of 35 million individuals at risk of severe food insecurity during the summer’s “lean” period stems from conflicts, climate change, displacement, and the breakdown of local food systems. The data was partly sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recent report, which also indicated that over half of households in Nigeria manage to maintain acceptable food consumption levels only by significantly sacrificing nutritional quality. This includes skipping meals to save food supplies.
Nigeria has been grappling with violence against Christians over the past decade, perpetuated by various Islamist terrorist groups. The WFP specifically mentioned threats from groups like Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim (JNIM) and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), which originated from Boko Haram. These groups remain a serious threat in regions where the Muslim-majority north borders the Christian south, particularly exacerbated by the actions of the Fulani herdsmen, who are often seen as the most significant danger to indigenous Christian communities.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors, a Christian humanitarian organization, noted the extensive documentation of violence against Christians in Nigeria. He pointed out that many ISIS-aligned groups have openly expressed their intent to target Christians in Africa. Last year saw a staggering 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed globally for their faith occurring in Nigeria, which also leads in the number of Christians kidnapped for their beliefs.
Violent incidents have been alarmingly frequent in Nigeria, with an average of eight attacks occurring daily. The Middle Belt, especially in states like Benue and Plateau, continues to face unrelenting violence.
Interestingly, both international observers and Nigerian officials frequently reject the notion that these attacks are religiously motivated. They assert that the conflicts are primarily over land disputes between nomadic Fulani Muslims and farming Christians, amid claims that climate change is contributing to land scarcity. The WFP did not suggest that the systemic targeting of Christian farmers is a factor in the expected food crisis.
In contrast, Christian individuals in the Middle Belt dismiss climate change as an explanation for the violence. Father Remigius Ihura, a Catholic priest in Benue state, criticized pro-Islamist narratives that frame the jihadist violence as a byproduct of climate change, emphasizing that such issues are not unique to Nigeria.
Former President Donald Trump recently declared that Nigeria’s situation poses a significant threat to religious freedom, urging current President Bola Tinubu to take action. He stressed that the United States cannot remain passive while atrocities occur, showing a willingness to protect persecuted Christians globally.
This call for international assistance has received backing from figures like Pope Leo XIV, who has consistently urged Catholics to pray for the persecuted church in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government, however, has consistently denied that there is a religious dimension to the crisis. In response to Trump’s concerns, President Tinubu countered that labeling Nigeria as religiously intolerant misrepresents the country’s reality and dismissed the severity of jihadist threats.
Recently, after a spate of schoolgirl kidnappings, the Nigerian government chose to shut down schools in multiple states, a decision that faced significant backlash from women’s rights activists. They accused the government of succumbing to pressures from jihadists rather than implementing effective security measures.
Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women criticized the government’s response, arguing that instead of demonstrating urgency and strategy, the actions taken reflect a state of panic. They contend that closing classrooms contributes to inequality and that children should be in school, not kept at home due to government failures. “Schools should be protected, not left empty,” they stated, highlighting the flaws in current policies.
