Escalating Violence Forces More Than 66,000 Nigerians to Flee to Niger and Benin

Escalating Violence Forces More Than 66,000 Nigerians to Flee to Niger and Benin
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More than 66,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring Niger and Benin since the beginning of 2026, amid escalating violence and insecurity in northern Nigeria, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as reported by the African Press Agency on November 6.

The number of arrivals is three times higher than that recorded during the same period last year, prompting UNHCR to request $2 million in emergency funding to address the growing humanitarian needs.

Niger has received the majority of those fleeing, with approximately 60,000 Nigerians arriving in the Tahoua and Diffa regions by mid-October. Around 36,300 of them reached Tahoua within just two months.

Meanwhile, more than 34,000 people remain unregistered, limiting their access to official documentation, humanitarian assistance and essential services, while increasing their exposure to protection risks. In Benin, arrivals to border communities are also rising, placing additional pressure on host communities and already limited basic services.

UNHCR’s funding appeal covers the period from November 2026 to January 2027. Its priorities include registering and issuing documentation to more than 44,000 people in Niger and Benin, as well as providing life-saving assistance to approximately 52,000 people inside Nigeria.