Backlash of “Uncamped” Internally Displaced Persons Fleeing Insurgency in the Northern Nigeria and Its Correlation to Fuelling Insecurity and Violence in the South East Region, Nigeria

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October 15, 2023
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Onah, Hyginus Chinweuba PhD¹ & Nwodo, Amechi Joseph PhD²
¹²Department of Legal Studies, Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu

Abstract

This study examines the repercussions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing insurgency, such as Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen/farmers conflicts, in the North Region of Nigeria and its impact on insecurity and violence in the South East Region. The research utilizes a doctrinal approach, relying on primary and secondary sources such as the Nigerian Constitution, legal instruments, conventions, books, journals, and articles. The information is analyzed critically, descriptively, comparatively, and evaluatively, highlighting the role of laws and policy frameworks in protecting IDPs. The findings indicate that the influx of uncampered IDPs from the North has given rise to significant challenges, including hunger, homelessness, and a lack of sustainable livelihoods. Government interventions have primarily focused on IDPs in designated camps, neglecting those outside these camps. As a result, desperate individuals have resorted to criminal activities to survive, contributing to security concerns in the South East. The study concludes by recommending collaborative efforts between government agencies and home states to provide social welfare programs, vocational training, and support to alleviate the plight of IDPs and discourage youth involvement in violence. It also proposes redefining the concept of IDPs to suit Nigeria’s socio-cultural context and establishing data centers to track returnees. Furthermore, the study advocates for the creation of a South East Development Commission and social security initiatives to address the underlying causes of insecurity and violence in the region.

Keywords “Uncamped” Internally Displaced Persons; UnCamped IDPs; Insurgency in the Northern Nigeria; Boko Haram Conflict; Herder/Farmer Clash and R2P

Citation Onah, H. C. & Nwodo, A. J. (2023). Backlash of “Uncamped” Internally Displaced Persons Fleeing Insurgency in the Northern Nigeria and Its Correlation to Fuelling Insecurity and Violence in the South East Region, Nigeria. African Journal of Current Research, 4(1), 1-19 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10004251

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