Nigeria

15 April 2025

At least 51 people were killed in the early hours of Monday, 14 April 2025, in Zikke and Kimakpa villages in Bassa district, Plateau state, Nigeria. The gunmen, suspected to be cattle herders, launched the attack while residents were asleep, leaving several others injured. The incident follows a series of deadly attacks in Plateau, including one in the previous week that left 52 dead and displaced nearly 2,000 people across affected communities. The needs of those affected remain unknown. (Reuters 14/04/2025, AP 15/04/2025, HumAngle 14/04/2025)

20 March 2025

The USAID funding freeze enacted in early 2025 has significantly contributed to severe funding gaps for humanitarian response programmes in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, causing cascading failures across critical sectors: healthcare systems struggle with medicine and staff shortages, hampering the cholera and measles outbreak response; nutrition programmes have reduced coverage, increasing risks for children with severe acute malnutrition; and shelter, NFI, and camp coordination and management services face delays or suspensions, leaving displaced people without basic protection. A mid-February survey assessing the impact of the funding freeze on implementing responders confirmed these service gaps, documenting severe operational disruptions across Borno state as organisations scaled down critical services. With reduced capacity among humanitarian responders and no immediate alternatives to fill the void, overstretched response systems are failing to meet basic needs, leaving vulnerable communities with rapidly deteriorating access to lifesaving aid. (CCCM Cluster et al. 16/03/2025, OCHA 12/03/2025, BBC 18/03/2025)

21 January 2025

The northwest of Nigeria continues to face high levels of humanitarian needs caused by long-standing ethnic and religious tensions and banditry, often leading to violence against civilians. On 8 January, armed groups carried out multiple attacks in Zamfara State, killing five people and abducting over 200, primarily women and children. This incident followed a similar attack in Gana town on 5 January, where 46 individuals were kidnapped. By June 2024, over 670,000 people were displaced across, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.

Insecurity in Zamfara has severely disrupted access to essential healthcare services, leaving communities without basic medical care. Frequent attacks by armed groups have forced the closure of some health facilities, while others operate at reduced capacity because of staff shortages and security concerns. Access to healthcare facilities remains a significant challenge, particularly for women seeking maternal services, as the fear of attacks and the remoteness of certain areas hinder their ability to receive timely and essential care. Many residents face difficulties accessing vaccinations for preventable diseases, further intensifying public health risks.

(ECHO 10/01/2025, [IOM 18/04/2024] (https://dtm.iom.int/reports/nigeria-north-central-and-north-west-round-14-idp-atlas-june-2024), MSF 16/01/2025)

22 October 2024

In North West Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara states, banditry has severely disrupted healthcare and education services. Health workers face abductions, the looting of medical supplies, and the destruction or seizure of healthcare facilities. Insecurity has also led to the closure of numerous health centres, especially in local government areas such as Maru, Shinkafi, and Zurmi, requiring residents to travel long distances to state capitals or neighbouring states for medical care. Bandits have taken over over 168 schools in Zamfara, and their attacks have displaced nearly 700,000 people and disrupted agricultural activities, leading to worsening food insecurity. As a result, 13.5 million people face acute food shortages, with 460,000 experiencing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity levels. (ACSS 21/10/2024, HumAngle 03/02/2024)

15 October 2024

Since July 2024, floods in Nigeria have inundated 31 of the 36 states in the country and affected 1.2 million people. The most affected state is Borno state, with around 420,000 affected people. The floods have damaged or destroyed around 117,000 houses and affected around 180,000 cultivated farmlands. At least 50,000 displaced people are still residing in emergency shelters. Urgent humanitarian needs include food, potable water, shelter, NFIs (such as mosquito nets, mats, and hygiene kits), access to WASH services, healthcare support, and protection services, especially for women, children, and people with disabilities. (OCHA 15/10/2024)

12 September 2024

On 10 September 2024, severe flash flooding in Maiduguri city triggered the collapse of the Alau Dam, affecting over 239,000 people and displacing nearly 50,000 across Bulabulin, Fori, Galtimari, and Gwange areas (Borno state). The flooding has disrupted critical supply chains and hindered access to schools, healthcare facilities, and markets in many parts of Borno. Immediate needs for the affected include food, NFIs, shelter, and clean water. (OCHA 10/09/2024, ECHO 11/09/2024, CNN 11/09/2024)

03 September 2024

By 2 September 2024, heavy rains had affected over 500,000 people across 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states, including Bauchi, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The floods have displaced 205,000 people, killed 170, damaged 76,000 houses, and destroyed over 106,089 hectares of farmland. (IRC 02/09/2024, VOA 28/08/2024)