Nigeria’s Refugee Crisis Deepens as 426,000 Flee to Niger, Cameroon and Chad

More than 426,000 Nigerians have crossed international borders and now live as refugees in Niger, Cameroon and Chad, according to the latest UNHCR figures. The numbers show that years of conflict and insecurity in parts of Nigeria continue to affect neighboring countries.

Niger hosts the largest share, with 278,077 Nigerian refugees, or 65.2 percent of the total recorded in the three countries. Cameroon hosts 126,320, while Chad accommodates 22,051. Together, Niger and Cameroon shelter 404,397 Nigerians, almost 95 percent of the total.

The figures also show the scale of displacement within the region. Across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, authorities recorded 3.26 million internally displaced people. Nigeria accounted for 2.33 million, or 71.5 percent, followed by Cameroon with 510,855, Chad with 219,595 and Niger with 199,542.

The data for Niger and Cameroon were updated through July 31, 2026, while Chad’s figures were current through June 30. The distribution of refugees reflects a crisis that crosses borders, with people fleeing insecurity in Nigeria while neighboring countries host the largest displaced populations.