In a stark revelation, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria has sounded the alarm that the relentless onslaught of attacks and kidnappings against farmers in Nigeria could plunge the country into a worsening food crisis. The dire situation has been exacerbated by ongoing insecurity, prolonged conflicts, and an anticipated surge in food prices.
Famari Barro, the Country Director for Save the Children Nigeria, delivered this warning in a statement released in Abuja. He emphasized that these violent attacks, particularly in the North, are intensifying an already dire hunger crisis.
Barro highlighted the devastating impact of armed groups’ actions, which have led to displacements, disrupted markets, and loss of livelihoods. Shockingly, from January to June 2023, armed groups killed over 128 farmers and kidnapped 37 others, with a particularly grim toll in Nigeria’s northern Borno State.
Children are disproportionately affected by these events. Barro stressed that urgent action is needed to prioritize the well-being of children, as these brutal attacks drive up food prices and push more families towards starvation.
The situation is dire, with the UN estimating that over 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity in 2023—a staggering 47% increase from the 17 million already at risk. Ongoing insecurity, prolonged conflicts, and the projected rise in food prices are the key drivers.
Moreover, the crisis extends to children’s health. Approximately two million children under five in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe are at risk of acute malnutrition in 2023, and around 700,000 children teeter on the brink of death.
The climate crisis exacerbates these challenges, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe. SCI, having been engaged in Nigeria since 2001, has been actively responding to the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast since 2014. They provide essential services such as food, clean water, nutrition, protection, sexual and reproductive health care, and education to families in the region. Additionally, they are lending technical support to the government in critical areas such as health, education, and social protection.
The time to act is now, as the lives of countless vulnerable individuals, especially children, hang in the balance. Immediate intervention is crucial to stem the tide of this devastating trend and avert further tragedy.