Challenges of conflict-induced displacement among rural communities of Kaga LGA, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

At a global scale, people in their millions are forced to leave their homes or places of habitual residence in the last few years, because of armed conflicts, internal strife or systematic violations of human rights. Unlike refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not crossed an internationally recognized State border, but rather seek refuge in another part of their country, which renders their situation basically complicated. Typically, this movement is characterized by the occurrence of large-scale violations of human rights, but IDPs benefit from no clearly defined institutional responsibility or protection. This study highlighted the socioeconomic and health challenges of conflictinduced displaced persons. The study focused on two IDP camps in Benisheikh where 200 survey questionnaires were administered for accurate information about the challenges face by the IDPs in their various camps. Twenty household heads were interviewed, ten household heads from each IDP camp. The information obtained from the study was analyzed using descriptive analysis while the results were presented using Microsoft excel. The study found that people flee their homes for fear of death when they could no longer satisfy the demand placed on them by the Boko Haram of paying tributes. The study also discovered that death of love ones, loss of accommodations, food shortage, loss of business and loss of farm land are the major challenges so far faced by IDPs in the study area. The study also shows that IDPs situations are worse compared to before displacement.