Nigeria food crisis rising to record levels due to attacks, new UN report warns

“We are facing many challenges—nowhere to sleep, nowhere to find food. How do you solve the problems of your children in this kind of situation?” —Jumai Abdnigo, Kaduna State, Nigeria

These words from Nigerian mother Jumai show the emotional pain of a parent struggling to feed and care for her children after militants attacked her village, kidnapped her and killed her husband.

A new report from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) indicates that Jumai is not alone in her suffering. The crisis she and her family face is rising to levels not seen in almost a decade in northern Nigeria. And it’s expanding. According to the UN WFP, “conflict is driving hunger in some northern states in Nigeria, particularly the northeast, to levels not seen in almost a decade.”

In the coming months, millions of people living in some of the world’s most fragile regions are likely to experience increasing levels of hunger—driven by ongoing conflict, economic hardship and reductions in humanitarian aid.

Specifically, more than 17 million people —an increase of almost 2 million since the last projections—across nine conflict-affected states in northern Nigeria are experiencing crisis, emergency or catastrophic levels of hunger. Borno State in the far northeast is one of the most affected regions.

However, the crisis is spreading, says Kinda Samba, WFP regional director for West and Central Africa: “For years, insurgent attacks and violence were largely concentrated in parts of northeast Nigeria. Today, they are spreading across a much wider area and forcing people from farmland, driving displacement and restricting humanitarian access, meaning hunger is quick to follow.”

A June report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the WFP cites that violence and instability remain the leading drivers of food insecurity, contributing to the crisis in 12 of the 13 identified hotspots, with Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia (all in the top 30 countries of Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List), remain hotspots of highest concern for the WFP.

A young boy sitting behind a pot of food in an IDP camp
 

Christians at a breaking point

The report comes on the heels of Open Doors’ recent call for prayer and support for Christians in Northwest Nigeria, especially Kaduna and Katsina states. Throughout these regions, Christians are being chased from their homes, kidnapped and murdered. And as a result, thousands of believers are at a breaking point.

  “It has gotten to a point where people find it difficult to feed their families because farmlands that people cultivate are no more accessible to them,” explains Rev. Enoch, a church leader in Kaduna State. He adds that the situation has become so dire some children have resorted to stealing and some women have turned to prostitution to survive.

The local church doesn’t have the strength to help anymore due to years of ongoing financial fatigue. “Many Christian believers have been displaced not just from their homes, but from their means of livelihood, which has led to their dependence on the church and other aid groups for support, thereby affecting the economy of the church,” Rev. Enoch says.

Additionally, Christians in the most northern states are heavily marginalised regarding the distribution of relief aid. “The key stakeholders in the state are Muslims and, as such, will always interfere with the distribution process of relief aid,” our partner explains.

A Christian aid worker reported that out of more than 2,000 persons shortlisted for aid intervention, he tried to add 20 Christian internally displaced persons (IDPs) onto the list and his actions almost cost him his job.

Preparing for dinner in an IDP camp
 

Stand with suffering believers

As God’s people, we have the opportunity to step into the lives of church leaders like Rev. Enoch and believers like Jumai. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “when one part of the Body of Christ suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).

Our local partners have identified 5,400 displaced Christian families in desperate need of basic supplies, trauma care and long-term support.

Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Christians are under fire, as extremist groups target the church. The problem is massive and requires an equally large response. Through our faith in Jesus, we believe there is always hope for God’s people.

That’s why the African church has challenged us to take action and raise 1 million prayers and petitions to help them live out their resilient faith. The Arise Africa multi-year campaign addresses the crisis facing God’s people in sub-Saharan Africa. Add your voice here.
 

‘Pray with us!’

Despite Jumai’s many challenges after the attack, she continues to trust God. “I haven’t lost faith in Him,” she says. “I hope in Him. He is the only one who can save me. I commend my heart to Him just like Hannah did as she handed over her troubles to God.”

Jumai is one of millions of Christians in sub-Saharan Africa who represent a suffering but resilient church that finds refuge and strength in Christ. For them, prayer is a frequent and powerful request.

“Pray with us!” Rev. Enoch pleads. “May God bring an end to this disaster. May God strengthen the faith of believers in this trying times.”
 

Pray for your family in northern Nigeria and throughout sub-Saharan Africa:

• Pray that God will multiply harvests and provide the right weather in the affected areas. Ask Him to give wisdom to leaders to help them grow more food.
• Pray that people who are suffering will get to know Jesus in this time.
• Pray for fair distribution of aid and that more relief aid will reach needy people in the affected areas.
• Pray that the church would react biblically to the circumstances and that God will give them wisdom to have enough food to share with other communities.
• Pray for the end of the insecurity causing most of the hunger.