Nigeria insecurity deepens poverty and threatens food supply

A new report on northern Nigeria finds that three forms of violence – Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency in the northeast, farmer‑herder clashes in the centre and banditry/kidnapping in the northwest – are cutting household spending by 4‑14 % and driving chronic poverty. The study, based on national surveys and field interviews, says diversified livelihoods are the most effective resilience factor.

Insecurity is also forcing farmers and small traders to abandon rural areas, disrupting the country’s food system. Analysts cite more than 1,200 deaths in early 2026 and “farming taxes” levied by armed groups, prompting many to shrink or drop their farms. The FAO, WFP and local officials warn that reduced production and broken supply chains could push millions toward acute hunger, while food prices rise in urban markets.