Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is facing a complex security and humanitarian crisis that threatens the very foundations of its stability. Over the past year, insurgent attacks across the northern states have intensified, leaving communities exposed to violence, displacement, and hunger. According to the World Food Programme, nearly thirty-five million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity in 2026, the highest number ever recorded in the nation’s history. The agricultural sector, particularly in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kebbi, and Niger states, has been severely disrupted as farmers abandon their fields for fear of attacks. The combination of militant operations, dwindling food production, and growing displacement has created a humanitarian situation of alarming proportions.
The threat is carried out by organised armed groups, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. These groups frequently target schools, villages, and farming communities, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Attacks on civilians not only generate fear but also undermine economic activity, interrupt education, and erode the social fabric that binds communities together. The insurgency has transformed once-safe towns and villages into zones of insecurity, where everyday activities such as going to school or tending to farms are fraught with risk.
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The humanitarian impact of insurgency is starkly evident in northern Nigeria, where millions of people now lack access to sufficient food. According to WFP data, an estimated six million people in these regions are facing famine-like conditions. Children are disproportionately affected, with malnutrition rates reaching alarming levels in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states. The reduction of international aid has exacerbated the situation, with funding shortfalls leading to the suspension of key nutrition programs that previously supported hundreds of thousands of children.
Displacement has further intensified food insecurity, as families uprooted from their homes often end up in informal settlements or camps where access to food, healthcare, and education is severely limited. The combination of hunger and insecurity creates a vicious cycle, with suffering driving recruitment into militant groups and perpetuating the instability.
The human cost of insurgency extends beyond hunger. Schools, which once served as safe havens for learning, have become prime targets for armed gangs. On 17 November 2025, assailants raided a government girls’ boarding school in Kebbi State, abducting twenty-five students. After several days of intensive rescue operations, twenty-four of these girls were released, providing a rare moment of relief amid the ongoing crisis.
This rescue demonstrates that coordinated government and security efforts can yield results, but it also highlights the persistent danger facing children in these regions. The psychological trauma endured by the students and their families is immeasurable, and the disruption of their education has long-term implications for community resilience and national development.
In Niger State, another mass kidnapping resulted in the abduction of over three hundred students and teachers from a Catholic school. While fifty students managed to escape, hundreds remain in captivity, emphasising the scale of the threat and the limitations of current security measures. The repeated targeting of schools not only undermines public trust in governance but also threatens the future human capital of the nation, as education is critical to breaking cycles of poverty and extremism.
Efforts and Partial Successes
While the release of the Kebbi schoolgirls represents a successful intervention, it is important to recognise that these are partial victories in a much larger struggle. Nigerian security forces, supported by local vigilante groups, deployed coordinated operations to track the escape routes and search for hideouts in the surrounding forests. The government’s active involvement in the rescue operations has shown that decisive action, backed by adequate resources and planning, can save lives. These successes, though limited, offer valuable lessons on how interventions can be structured to protect vulnerable populations.
However, the ongoing kidnappings, attacks on communities, and widespread displacement underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach. Temporary measures alone will not suffice; a sustained, coordinated strategy is required to address both the immediate threats and the underlying causes of insurgency.
Regional and Global Implications
Nigeria’s security crisis has ramifications beyond its borders. The escalation of insurgent attacks and mass kidnappings has destabilised surrounding countries such as Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, as displaced populations seek refuge across borders. Food insecurity in northern Nigeria has implications for regional markets and the wider West African economy. International organisations, including the United Nations and the World Food Programme, have emphasised the need for urgent, coordinated humanitarian and security responses. The failure to address Nigeria’s crisis effectively risks undermining decades of development gains and could trigger wider regional instability.
The Case for a State of Emergency
The scale and complexity of Nigeria’s insurgency and its humanitarian fallout make it imperative for the government to declare a state of emergency. Such a declaration would allow for the centralisation of command, more effective allocation of resources, and closer coordination between security, humanitarian, and community support efforts. It would also provide a clear legal framework to mobilise additional international assistance and facilitate interventions in areas where insurgent activity has rendered ordinary governance difficult.
A state of emergency would not only enable immediate action to rescue kidnapped individuals, protect schools, and secure farming areas but also allow the government to implement medium- and long-term strategies to address the root causes of the crisis. These include underdevelopment in rural areas, weak governance structures, and limited access to education and economic opportunities.
Recommendations for Sustainable Intervention
Addressing this crisis requires an integrated approach. The government must prioritise the safety of children and schools, deploying trained security personnel and establishing early-warning systems to prevent further kidnappings. Agricultural zones must be secured to allow farming activities to resume, mitigating the growing food insecurity. Support for displaced populations is essential, including the provision of food, shelter, psychosocial care, and livelihood programs.
Strengthening Nigeria’s security infrastructure is equally critical. Improved intelligence gathering, community-based policing, and the training and equipping of local law enforcement agencies can help prevent insurgent attacks from escalating. At the international level, Nigeria should continue to collaborate with humanitarian organisations and donor countries to secure the funding and technical support needed for both emergency relief and long-term resilience.
A Turning Point for Nigeria
The release of the Kebbi schoolgirls serves as a reminder that coordinated efforts can achieve tangible results, but it is also a stark warning that the crisis is far from over. Hundreds of children remain in captivity, millions face hunger, and insurgents continue to exploit weaknesses in governance and security. Declaring a state of emergency is not a cure-all, but it represents a decisive, necessary step toward safeguarding lives, restoring public confidence, and stabilising the country. The window for meaningful action is narrow, and the time to act is now. Nigeria’s response will determine not only the fate of its citizens but also the security and stability of the broader West African region.
