U.S. Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker Begins Strategic Foreign Visit Including Nigeria, Middle East, and Rome

By: Michael Mike

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker has embarked on a week-long diplomatic mission that includes stops in Abuja, Nigeria; Muscat, Oman; Manama, Bahrain; and Rome, Italy from January 21–29, 2026, the U.S. State Department confirmed in a statement this week. 

In Nigeria, Hooker is leading the American delegation and serving as head of the U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group—a recently established platform aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and economic issues. During talks in Abuja, the delegation is expected to discuss strategies for protecting vulnerable communities, enhancing cooperation against terrorism, and expanding U.S. investment opportunities in the West African nation. 

The visit comes at a time of heightened focus on Nigeria’s internal security challenges and international efforts to support peace and stability across the region. Local and international observers have noted ongoing discussions between U.S. and Nigerian authorities on religious violence and security cooperation as part of broader diplomatic engagement. 

After concluding discussions in Nigeria, Hooker’s itinerary moves to the Gulf region, where she will lead strategic dialogues with officials in Oman and Bahrain. These talks are expected to advance cooperation on regional security, economic ties, and cultural exchange, reflecting shared interests between the United States and its partners in the Middle East. 

The final leg of the trip will take Hooker to Rome, where she will meet with counterparts from European governments and international organisations. In Italy, engagements will cover major global priorities including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, diplomatic efforts toward peace in the Middle East, and developments in Venezuela. She is also scheduled to hold meetings with senior officials from United Nations agencies based in the city—such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)—to discuss accountability and oversight of U.S.-funded assistance programs and to explore potential new agricultural trade opportunities for American producers. 

Hooker, who was appointed Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in mid-2025, oversees key regional and bilateral policy issues and plays a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy across multiple regions. 

Her current tour underscores Washington’s intent to reinforce diplomatic engagement across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe at a time of evolving geopolitical challenges
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WFP Raises Alarm Over Possible Food Aid Cuts as Hunger Deepens in Northern Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that more than one million people in northeast Nigeria could lose access to emergency food and nutrition assistance within weeks due to a severe funding shortfall.

The agency said that without urgent financial support, it will be forced to drastically scale down its operations, limiting assistance to just 72,000 people—an unprecedented reduction in Nigeria. The warning comes amid a sharp rise in violence, displacement, and hunger across the country’s northern regions.

Nigeria is currently facing one of its most serious food security crises in recent years. According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis, nearly 35 million people are expected to experience acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season. In Borno State alone, about 15,000 people are classified as facing catastrophic hunger, the most severe level short of famine and the highest recorded in the state in a decade.

Speaking on the situation, WFP’s Nigeria Country Director, David Stevenson, cautioned that cutting food assistance at this critical time could have far-reaching humanitarian and security consequences. He noted that millions of displaced and vulnerable people depend on food aid for survival and stability.

WFP has operated in northeast Nigeria since 2015, providing food and nutrition support to nearly two million people each year in areas affected by conflict. Beyond emergency relief, the organisation also supports local food systems by purchasing food domestically and helping communities build resilience against future shocks.

However, renewed insecurity has further strained already fragile communities. Over the past four months, about 3.5 million people have reportedly been displaced nationwide, with the majority of them in northern Nigeria. The violence has disrupted farming activities, destroyed food supplies, and pushed malnutrition rates in several states to critical levels.

Despite recent donor contributions that helped sustain operations, WFP said those funds have now been exhausted. The agency warned that if food assistance in displacement camps is halted, many people may be forced to leave in search of survival, potentially migrating to other regions or becoming vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

To prevent a complete shutdown of its northeast Nigeria operations, WFP said it urgently needs about 129 million dollars to cover food assistance and related activities over the next six months.

The agency stressed that continued humanitarian support remains a key stabilising factor in conflict-affected areas, helping to prevent further displacement and regional spillover of the crisis.

WFP Raises Alarm Over Possible Food Aid Cuts as Hunger Deepens in Northern Nigeria

Kurmin Wali Church Attacks Spark Fresh Calls for Community-Based Forest Guards

By: Michael Mike

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) have condemned the recent attack on Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the security gaps in forest-bordering communities across northern Nigeria.

According to reports, armed kidnappers stormed the community, invaded three churches, abducted 169 worshippers, and escaped through nearby forests without encountering resistance. The attack has triggered renewed concern over the vulnerability of rural settlements located close to vast, ungoverned forest areas.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NCYP said the incident underscored the urgent need for a functional and community-driven Forest Guard system. The group argued that if local residents had been trained and deployed as part of a forest security structure, the attack could have been prevented or at least disrupted through early warning and coordination with security agencies.

“The ease with which the attackers operated raises serious questions about the current security framework in forest communities,” the group said, noting that criminal groups often exploit the absence of local resistance to carry out kidnappings and attacks.

While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to address insecurity, the group in the statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak maintained that recent events show the need to strengthen existing strategies, referencing the federal government’s approval of a Forest Guard initiative but stressed that its success depends on the inclusion of indigenous community members who understand the terrain and live permanently in affected areas.

NCYP further stated that it is unrealistic to expect the military and police to maintain a constant presence in every forest and rural settlement. Instead, it advocated a complementary approach where trained community members support conventional security forces by monitoring forest movements and providing timely intelligence.

The group also linked the urgency of security reforms to the broader political landscape, noting that expectations are high ahead of the 2027 general elections. It urged the federal government to ensure that the Forest Guard initiative is fully implemented in a way that empowers vulnerable communities.

The Kurmin Wali attack adds to a growing list of incidents in Kaduna State and other parts of the North-West, where criminal groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, places of worship, and travellers, often retreating into forests that remain difficult to police.

Security agencies have yet to release an official update on the rescue of the abducted victims or arrests connected to the attack.
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