Nearly 64,000 Nigerians flee violence to Niger Republic in 2026

Nearly 64,000 people have fled violence in northern Nigeria to neighbouring Niger since the beginning of 2026, as attacks by Islamist militants and armed gangs continue to drive civilians from their homes.

The new arrivals are worsening humanitarian pressures in Niger, which already hosts more than 500,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, including about 327,500 Nigerians, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

Several hundred Nigerians have also sought refuge in Benin, underscoring the cross-border consequences of insecurity in Nigeria.

Most of those arriving in Niger have settled in the border regions of Diffa and Tahoua. Diffa alone has received more than 23,000 people since January, with children accounting for over two-thirds of the new arrivals, UNHCR said.

The agency warned that many families are struggling to meet basic needs, including food, clean water, shelter and healthcare. Some are living in makeshift shelters, while women walk several kilometres each day to fetch water.

“Thousands of newly arrived refugees, many of them children, are struggling to survive with limited access to food, clean water, shelter and essential services, as humanitarian resources fall critically short,” UNHCR spokesperson Dominique Hyde said in a statement on Tuesday.

The influx is also exposing gaps in refugee protection. Only about five per cent of those who arrived in Niger this year have been formally registered, leaving many without the documentation needed to access humanitarian assistance and public services.

Aid agencies have reported rising malnutrition, respiratory infections and poor sanitation among the new arrivals. UNHCR also said insecurity and climate-related pressures are compounding humanitarian needs in the country. More than 70 per cent of Niger’s reported security incidents this year occurred in the Diffa region.

The violence driving the movement is linked to attacks by Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and armed criminal gangs operating across northern Nigeria. Their attacks, including raids on communities, killings and abductions, have displaced millions of people over the past decade.

The latest movement adds to a protracted regional displacement crisis. UNHCR data show that Niger hosted about 327,856 Nigerian refugees as of 31 October, making Nigerians by far the largest refugee population in the country.

UNHCR is seeking $11.4 million to expand its response in Niger, Nigeria and Benin. It warned that without additional funding, thousands of displaced families could be left without basic assistance.

The new arrivals are fleeing insecurity in Nigeria but face another struggle across the border, where limited resources, poor access to basic services and inadequate registration are leaving many families exposed.