64,000 Nigerians flee to Niger Republic over worsening insecurity — UNHCR

The UNHCR has revealed that nearly 64,000 Nigerians fled to Niger Republic in 2026 to escape worsening insecurity, warning of growing humanitarian challenges and appealing for $11.4 million in emergency assistance.

Nearly 64,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring Niger Republic since January 2026 to escape attacks by Islamist militants and armed criminal gangs, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has disclosed.

According to a report by UNHCR, Niger currently hosts about 327,500 Nigerian refugees, while hundreds have crossed into Benin Republic.

The agency said most arrivals settled in Diffa and Tahoua, with over 23,000 people reaching Diffa, including thousands of children.

It warned that displaced families face severe shortages of food, clean water, shelter and healthcare.

UNHCR revealed that only five per cent of new arrivals had been registered, appealing for $11.4 million in humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, UNHCR and Germany have launched the “One Motor, Plenty Services” initiative to support 3.7 million displaced Nigerians.

Humanitarian Affairs Minister Bernard Doro said, “For millions of our citizens, the problem is not merely that services do not exist. The problem is that those services most often do not reach them.”