Over 4.5 million people starving in northeast Nigeria - UN says

The United Nations has said that over 4.5 million Nigerians in the Northeast are starving and need urgent food aid following the activities of terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Reports by various agencies revealed that the figure may continue to double.

The World Food Programme's (WFP) Regional Director for West Africa, Abdou Dieng said: "All indications point to an extremely grave situation.”

“As the rains set in and the lean season deepens, and more areas are opened up to access humanitarian aid, the full scale of hunger and devastation is likely to come to light,” he added.

According to the reports, the number of people struggling with severe food shortage in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, has risen fourfold since March to exceed one million.

It is also estimated that at least 65,000 newly liberated people in inaccessible areas of Borno and Yobe are facing “famine-like” conditions.

"While some internally displaced persons are returning to their natural homes, they find them uninhabitable. Therefore, they’re forced to stay in urban areas, again as IDPs.

"These families have to beg, get in debts or skip meals to survive. Many now eat only once a day.

"Also, if the Nigeria’s economy continues to sink, this could push the number of people in need of food assistance in the northeast by another million by September.

"WFP in another food assessment has warned of soaring prices in areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency," the report said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered police to arrest government officials accused of stealing food aid intended for victims of Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria