Northeast Nigeria is on the brink of a major humanitarian catastrophe as a resurgence in jihadist attacks, severe foreign aid cuts, and soaring living costs converge to push over one million people toward starvation. Once a vibrant agricultural hub, towns like Damboa in Borno State now symbolize a desperate struggle for survival.

Jihadist Threats and Mass Displacement

Located near the Sambisa forest—now a jihadist stronghold—Damboa has witnessed a fresh wave of attacks in 2025 that have forced thousands of villagers like 25-year-old Almata Modu to flee to urban centers in search of safety and food. Despite relative protection in town, food aid is dwindling rapidly.

Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and ISWAP have become increasingly coordinated and emboldened, exploiting Nigeria’s stretched military capacity and rising rural discontent fueled by economic decline.

Western Aid Cuts Deepen the Crisis

The situation is exacerbated by sharp reductions in Western humanitarian funding, including the dismantling of USAID by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 5 million people across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states are facing severe hunger, but only 1.3 million were receiving aid—aid that is now running out.

“This is our last rice from USAID,” said Chi Lael, WFP’s spokesperson in Nigeria, highlighting the dire shortage of resources. By the end of July, 150 of WFP’s 500 nutrition centers in the region will be closed, putting 300,000 children at immediate risk.

Malnutrition on the Rise

Medical professionals in Damboa are already seeing the consequences. According to Dr. Kevin Akwawa of the International Medical Corps, the area now records the highest rate of severe child malnutrition in all of northeast Nigeria. Mothers like Fanna Abdulraman, herself undernourished, are unable to feed their infants. Her six-month-old twins are among the growing number of emergency cases.

Farming Declines as Food Insecurity Worsens

The traditional farming calendar offers no relief. With June to September being the “lean season”—a period before harvest when food is scarce—hunger will worsen. Displaced farmers, facing inflated food prices and insecurity, cannot safely tend to their fields. Those who try must do so under the watch of armed militias patrolling the Maiduguri-Mafa highway.

Implications for Regional Stability

WFP Chief in Nigeria, David Stevenson, warns that the collapse of humanitarian support could extend beyond a local crisis: “This is no longer just a humanitarian issue, it’s a growing threat to regional stability.”

The situation is volatile, with the potential to fuel further unrest. As Dr. John Ala of the WFP noted, “When you see food insecurity and poverty, the next thing is more insecurity. People will resort to terrible coping mechanisms just to survive.”

A Call to Action

With nearly 31 million Nigerians facing acute hunger, urgent global intervention is needed. Without it, the compounding effects of jihadist violence, economic strain, and international disengagement risk transforming a humanitarian emergency into a full-blown regional crisis.