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Northern Nigeria is facing a spiraling food and security crisis, with aid agencies warning that drastic funding cuts and rising hunger could push desperate populations into the arms of jihadist groups like Boko Haram.
The United Nations calls the situation “unprecedented,” with over 31 million Nigerians facing acute food insecurity and 5 million children suffering from severe malnutrition. The crisis is especially dire in Borno State, where more than one million people are at risk of hunger. Years of jihadist violence have forced millions from farmlands, now largely abandoned. Funding cuts have devastated relief efforts. “The immediate and most brutal effect will be on child nutrition,” said Chi Lael, World Food Program’s (WFP) head of communications. The UN organization, unable to meet a $130 million appeal, shut down 150 malnutrition clinics, cutting off treatment for 300,000 children. WFP’s emergency food stocks have been “completely exhausted,” halting aid for 1.4 million people.
With agriculture crippled, rural communities like Gurnowa remain deserted under the threat of violence. “Anyone who goes to the farm risks being kidnapped,” said displaced farmer Sha’afa Usman. “Most villagers no longer go because they can’t afford ransom.” Experts warn that this vacuum is ripe for jihadist exploitation. “It will be much easier for militants to lure youths to join them and spiral insecurity across the whole region,” said Trust Mlambo of WFP. Samuel Malik of Good Governance Africa think tank added that systemic neglect and insecurity — not just aid cuts — are the deeper causes. As stability crumbles, observers fear hunger could reverse hard-won gains against extremism across the region.
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