Nigeria: Hundreds Abducted in Northern Insurgent Attacks Surge

At least 402 people, primarily schoolchildren, have been abducted in the northern-central states of Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno since November 17, as reported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday. Only 88 have been released or managed to escape.

Call for Justice

“We are shocked by the recent surge in mass kidnappings in north-central Nigeria,” stated OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan in Geneva. “We urge Nigerian authorities – at all levels – to take all legal measures to ensure these despicable attacks end and hold those responsible accountable.” OHCHR emphasized the importance of ensuring the safe return of those still held and preventing further kidnappings.

Growing Hunger and Security Threat

Rising insurgent attacks are threatening regional stability and causing a dramatic increase in hunger, according to the World Food Program (WFP). The latest analysis anticipates nearly 35 million people will face severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season from June to August, marking a record high for the country. Insurgent attacks have intensified this year. Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, reportedly carried out its first attack in Nigeria last month, while the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) aims to expand into the Sahel region. “Communities are under severe pressure from repeated attacks and economic tensions,” said David Stevenson, WFP country director and representative in Nigeria. “If we fail to feed families and curb food insecurity, growing desperation could fuel instability as insurgent groups exploit hunger to extend their influence, creating a security threat reaching beyond West Africa.”

Millions of People in Danger

The WFP highlighted that northern Nigeria is facing its most severe food crisis in a decade, with rural farming areas particularly affected. Nearly six million people are expected to encounter crisis-level hunger or worse during the 2026 lean season in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, including around 15,000 in Borno State facing catastrophic famine or near-starvation conditions. The situation is exacerbated by funding shortfalls forcing the WFP to reduce its nutrition programs in the northeast in July, impacting over 300,000 children. The WFP warns that resources for emergency food and nutrition aid will be depleted by December, leaving millions without essential support next year.