UNHCR: 64,000 Nigerians Flee to Niger Republic Over Insecurity
Nearly 64,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring Niger Republic since the beginning of 2026 to escape escalating insecurity in northern Nigeria, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has disclosed.
The UN refugee agency, in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, warned that the growing influx of displaced Nigerians was worsening an already critical humanitarian situation in Niger.
According to the agency, several hundred Nigerians have also crossed into neighbouring Benin Republic in search of safety amid persistent attacks by armed groups, jihadist insurgents and other security threats.
UNHCR disclosed that Niger was already hosting more than 500,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, including approximately 327,500 Nigerians, before the latest arrivals.
It identified Diffa, in southeastern Niger, and Tahoua, in the western part of the country, as the major destinations for newly displaced Nigerians.
The agency said that about 1,200 people crossed into Diffa in October, while another 3,400 arrived in Tahoua during the same period.
It further disclosed that more than 70 per cent of Niger’s reported security incidents this year had occurred in Diffa, including armed attacks and violence against civilians.
The humanitarian situation has also been worsened by drought and irregular rainfall, which have affected agricultural production and livestock grazing.
UNHCR said grain production was expected to be insufficient in approximately 700 of the region’s 1,000 villages, while an estimated 70 per cent of pastureland had been lost.
The agency expressed concern over the living conditions of newly arrived refugees, many of whom are children, saying they lack adequate food, clean drinking water, healthcare and proper shelter.
It added that many displaced families were living in makeshift shelters, while refugee women were forced to walk several kilometres to fetch water for their households.
Humanitarian organisations have also reported high levels of malnutrition, poor hygiene and widespread respiratory infections among the displaced population.
Access to education remains another major challenge, particularly for Nigerian children who are accustomed to an English-language education system, with some locations lacking schools and transitional learning facilities.
To address the growing crisis, UNHCR appealed to the international community for increased humanitarian support, disclosing that it was seeking $11.4 million to expand emergency assistance and long-term solutions across Niger, Nigeria and Benin.
The agency said $2 million of the requested funding would be dedicated to immediate interventions, including food, water, shelter, healthcare, refugee registration and protection.
UNHCR’s Director of External Relations, Dominique Hyde, warned that the funding shortfall could leave thousands of vulnerable families without essential assistance.
She stressed that additional resources were urgently needed to protect displaced people and support host communities as insecurity continued to force more Nigerians from their homes.
