News
Nearly 55 Million People Will Struggle to Feed in West and Central Africa in June-August 2024- Report

Nearly 55 Million People Will Struggle to Feed in West and Central Africa in June-August 2024- Report
By: Michael Mike
Nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa will struggle to feed themselves in the June-August 2024 lean season, according to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis released by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
According to a statement on Friday jointly released by United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), this figure represents a four-million increase in the number of people who are food-insecure compared to the November 2023 forecast and highlights a fourfold increase over the last five years.
The statement lamented that the situation is particularly worrying in conflict-affected northern Mali, where an estimated 2,600 people are likely to experience catastrophic hunger (IPC/CH phase 5). The latest data also reveals a significant shift in the factors driving food insecurity in the region, beyond recurring conflicts.
It stated that economic challenges such as currency devaluations, soaring inflation, stagnating production, and trade barriers have worsened the food crisis, affecting ordinary people across the region with Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mali being among the worst affected.
The statement decried that prices of major staple grains continue to rise across the region from 10 percent to more than 100 percent compared to the five-year average, driven by currency inflation, fuel and transport costs, ECOWAS sanctions, and restrictions on agropastoral product flows, noting that currency inflation is a major driver of price volatility in Ghana (23%), Nigeria (30%), Sierra Leone (54%), Liberia (10%), and The Gambia (16%).
It explained that West and Central Africa remain heavily dependent on imports to meet the population’s food needs, with import bills continue to rise due to currency depreciation and high inflation, even as countries struggle with major fiscal constraints and macroeconomic challenges.
According to the statement. cereal production for the 2023-2024 agricultural season shows a deficit of 12 million tons, while the per capita availability of cereals is down by two percent compared to the last agricultural season.
Speaking on the situation, WFP’s Acting Regional Director for Western Africa, Margot Vandervelden, said: “The time to act is now. We need all partners to step up, engage, adopt and implement innovative programs to prevent the situation from getting out of control, while ensuring no one is left behind,” adding that: “We need to invest more in resilience-building and longer-term solutions for the future of West Africa.”
The statement lamented that malnutrition in West and Central Africa is alarmingly high, with 16.7 million children under five acutely malnourished and more than 2 out of 3 households unable to afford healthy diets, in addition, 8 out of 10 children aged 6-23 months do not consume the minimum number of foods required for optimal growth and development.
High food prices, limited healthcare access, and inadequate diets primarily drive acute malnutrition in children under 5, adolescents, and pregnant women. In parts of northern Nigeria, the prevalence of acute malnutrition in women aged 15-49 years is as high as 31 percent.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director Gilles Fagninou, said: “For children in the region to reach their full potential, we need to ensure that each girl and boy receives good nutrition and care, lives in a healthy and safe environment, and is given the right learning opportunities.
“Good nutrition in early life and childhood is the promise for a productive and educated workforce for tomorrow’s society. To make a lasting difference in children’s lives, we need to consider the situation of the child as a whole and strengthen education, health, water and sanitation, food, and social protection systems.”
In response to increasingly growing needs, FAO, UNICEF, and WFP called on national governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector to implement sustainable solutions that bolster food security, enhance agricultural productivity, and mitigate the adverse effects of economic volatility.
They said governments and the private sector need to collaborate to ensure that the fundamental human right to food is upheld for all.
The statement revealed that in Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Niger, millions of people now benefit from national social protection programmes supported by UNICEF and WFP. Both agencies are expanding their support to the Chad and Burkina Faso governments. Similarly, FAO, IFAD, and WFP have joined forces across the Sahel to increase productivity, availability, and access to nutritious food through resilience-building programmes.
FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Robert Guei, said: “To respond to the unprecedented food and nutrition insecurity, it is important to mobilize for the promotion and support of policies that can encourage the diversification of plant, animal, and aquatic production and the processing of local foods (through the provision of agricultural inputs, access to productive resources for all to stimulate increased production and improve product availability).
“This is crucial not only to ensure healthy, affordable diets all year round, but also and above all to protect biodiversity, with the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change, and above all to counter high food prices and protect the livelihood of the affected population.”
Nearly 55 Million People Will Struggle to Feed in West and Central Africa in June-August 2024- Report
News
Borno police arrest 15-year-old over infanticide in Monguno IDP camp

Borno police arrest 15-year-old over infanticide in Monguno IDP camp
By: Zagazola Makama
The Borno State Police Command has arrested a 15-year-old girl for allegedly dumping a newborn infant’s body in a pit toilet within the Charamari Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Monguno.
According to a Police source on May 22, 2025, at about 9:15 a.m., it was reported that earlier the same day at around 6:00 a.m., the body of a newly born infant was found abandoned in one of the camp’s pit toilets.
The sources said that the suspect, identified as Yafalmata Alhaji Mustapha, aged 15 years, and a resident of the camp, is currently in police custody for investigation.
“Police and medical experts visited the scene where photographs were taken, and the infant’s body was evacuated to General Hospital Monguno. The medical doctor confirmed the infant dead upon arrival, and the corpse was deposited at the hospital for autopsy,”said the sources.
Following the autopsy, the body was released to the Camp Chairman of Charamari IDP Camp for burial according to Islamic rites.
Borno police arrest 15-year-old over infanticide in Monguno IDP camp
News
Angry villagers killed two Armed robbers in Gubio, Borno

Angry villagers killed two Armed robbers in Gubio, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Two armed robbers were fatally injured by angry villagers following an attack at Charimeleri Bush in Gubio Local Government Area, Borno State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred occurred on May 21, 2025, at about 5:30 p.m., when two unknown armed men armed with machetes, knives, bow and arrow pursued two young boys, Abdu Ali and Abba Ali who were grazing a flock of 25 sheep in Charimeleri Bush.
The suspects stole the entire flock and fled, but the boys ran home to alert their father, Bukar Umara. Villagers quickly mobilized and followed the rustlers’ footprints, eventually intercepting them and recovering the stolen sheep.
A violent confrontation ensued during which one of the robbers stabbed a villager, Fannami Bukar, in the chest. The villagers retaliated, fatally injuring both suspects, leading to their death.
Security forces promptly visited the scene, documented the incident with photographs, and recovered exhibits including a bow and arrow, a sheath knife, and two head veils.
The two injured robbers were rushed to Gubio General Hospital where they were certified dead by the attending doctor.
The stabbed victim was taken to the Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) Gubio for treatment and is reportedly responding well to medical care.
Angry villagers killed two Armed robbers in Gubio, Borno
Crime
Police officer arrested over alleged Cybercrime, Fraud in Ogun

Police officer arrested over alleged Cybercrime, Fraud in Ogun
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Police Force in Ogun has arrested one of its officers, Police Constable Idris Oloyede, over alleged involvement in conspiracy, stealing, cybercrime and other related offences.
Zagazola was reliably informed that the arrest was carried out on Wednesday by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta.
A police sources told Zagazola that Oloyede, who bears Force Number 537972, is attached to the patrol team at Odeda Divisional Headquarters.
According to the police sources, the arrest followed credible intelligence and investigation that linked the officer to the suspected crimes.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Odeda Division immediately released the officer for further interrogation upon the arrival of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. The suspect has been transferred to the SCID for detailed investigation.
Police officer arrested over alleged Cybercrime, Fraud in Ogun
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