ARMED CONFLICT AND FORCED MIGRATION IN NIGERIA

The issue of population displacement has emerged as a prominent concern in developing countries during the past few decades, primarily attributable to instances of armed conflicts. According to the World Migration Report 2020, there has been a significant rise in the population of internally displaced individuals (IDPs) affected by armed conflicts, with numbers increasing from 21 million in 2000 to 41 million in 2020. According to the Migration Data Portal (2021), the current global population of displaced individuals stands at 55 million, stemming from a combination of violent conflict and natural disasters. Among these displaced persons, 49 million may be attributed to 59 specific nations. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2021a), the West African region is home to a population exceeding five million individuals who are classified as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Sahel region has experienced a notable increase in violent conflicts, resulting in significant adverse effects on a substantial population, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA, 2022b), the Central Sahel region alone has witnessed almost 13 million individuals requiring humanitarian assistance. In Nigeria, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) stands at three million, with an additional 82,000 individuals classified as refugees and 1,600 individuals categorised as asylum-seekers. These individuals have been displaced as a result of the violent conflicts occurring in Cameroon (UNHCR 2022b). In the country of Mali, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has officially recognised and categorised 1.36 million individuals as individuals who require attention and assistance (UNHCR 2022a). Conflict can be conceptualised as the physical expression of discord and dissatisfaction, frequently stemming from unattained objectives. Contrary to the general notion, conflicts can manifest in non-violent forms. However, it is worth noting that the conflicts witnessed in Nigeria and Mali have been predominantly marked by acts of violence and cruelty (Annan, 2014). Armed conflict can manifest in several forms, encompassing inter-state hostilities as well as confrontations between governmental entities and non-state groups. The definition of armed conflict, as outlined in Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, pertains to a scenario that transpires within the jurisdiction of a contracting party or state. It presupposes that this situation has escalated to a degree that sets it apart from alternative manifestations of violence, such as riots or sporadic and isolated acts of aggression. Forced migration refers to the displacement of individuals from their residences as a consequence of either natural calamities, such as earthquakes, flooding, and drought, or human-induced factors, such as armed conflicts and wars. Individuals are compelled to relocate due to economic adversity and food insecurity.

Giovetti (2019) posits that forced migration pertains to the displacement of individuals, including migrants, displaced persons, and refugees, both inside and across national boundaries. Forced migration is mostly attributed to many key factors, namely armed conflicts and warfare, environmental transformations, and socio-economic circumstances. Based on the aforementioned definitions, forced migration and population displacement are considered synonymous occurrences, encompassing the compelled relocation of individuals from their residences to alternative locations. As per the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998), individuals who are internally displaced are those who have been compelled or compelled themselves to leave their residence or customary dwelling due to armed conflicts, violence, human rights violations, natural or man-made disasters, with the intention of evading the associated consequences, and have not crossed a state border that is internationally recognised (UNHCR 2021b). Social inclusion is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the strategies and mechanisms employed to guarantee equal access and opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to achieve their maximum potential in various aspects of life. The initiatives encompass a range of legislative measures, governmental strategies, and operational procedures aimed at ensuring fair and impartial availability of public services. Moreover, they facilitate the active involvement of individuals in the decision-making processes that directly influence their everyday existence (UN DESA, 2022). The concept provides a theoretical structure for comprehending the ways in which forcibly displaced individuals may engage with or assimilate into a host society as members of the citizenry subsequent to their displacement from their original residences. Bulger (2018) posits that the core constituents of social inclusion encompass economic engagement, health and service accessibility, education, individual autonomy and self-determination, social interaction, and fulfilment of societal responsibilities. Numerous research conducted on the forced migration situation in West Africa reveal that individuals who have been displaced encounter psychological consequences or mental health issues due to the traumatic events leading to their relocation and limited availability of crucial services. The psychological trauma experienced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State, Nigeria has been examined in a study conducted by Musa, Liberty, and Daksiri (2019). The study identified sexual violence, extreme poverty, and complete dependency as key factors contributing to the psychological trauma observed in IDP camps inside the state. The study conducted in Nigeria by the Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN 2018) found that livelihood support played a crucial role in promoting inclusivity, stability, and sustainability in terms of income generation. This support had a notable effect on mitigating unemployment and addressing social and economic disparities within areas affected by conflict. The findings of this study indicate that the absence of equitable economic opportunities, such as access to agricultural land, resulting from population growth, was the primary cause of competitiveness and conflicts between displaced individuals and the communities hosting them (ibid.). According to a recent investigation carried out by Iorbo (2022) in Benue State, situated in the north central region of Nigeria, it has been observed that internally displaced persons (IDPs) encounter significant challenges in adapting to their unfamiliar surroundings and establishing a sense of direction. Individuals in this population experience profound levels of poverty and encounter substantial obstacles in their pursuit of social integration. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) express deep concern regarding persistent hunger, limited healthcare accessibility, inadequate educational opportunities, and substandard housing conditions in unofficial camps. Similarly, individuals residing in official camps face challenges such as insufficient housing provisions and a lack of privacy. Furthermore, IDPs experience difficulties in securing sustainable livelihoods and encounter barriers in accessing farmland to fulfil their daily need. The assessment indicates a lack of windows in the shelters and insufficient provisions for shielding against rainfall. The primary social inclusion challenges experienced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) inside their newly established communities encompassed limited opportunities for education and healthcare, as well as insufficient or inadequate provisions for housing, livelihoods, and agricultural resources. Salami et al. (2020) have identified several structural obstacles that internally displaced persons (IDPs) encounter in their pursuit of education. These challenges encompass limited availability of public educational opportunities within host communities, inadequate access to nourishment, substandard living conditions, insufficient care, and heightened vulnerability stemming from parental loss or separation. Research findings also indicate a positive association between mental health difficulties and educational attainment. Nigeria, situated in the West African region, is home to a population of approximately 218 million individuals, as reported by the National Population Commission in 2022. The nation in question shares its western boundary with the Benin Republic, which is next to the Gulf of Guinea. Its eastern border is with Cameroon, while its northern border is with Chad, and its southern border is with Niger. Nigeria ranks among the leading global producers of crude oil. Nigeria exhibits a significant prevalence of poverty, as indicated by a poverty rate of 53.5 percent, wherein more than half of the population subsists on a daily income of less than $1.90. Furthermore, the country has a notable level of multidimensional poverty, including dimensions such as monetary poverty, education, and basic infrastructure, with a severe rate of 26.8 percent (UNDP 2020).

Nigeria has experienced significant devastation as a result of many forms of violent conflicts, primarily stemming from the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern region, instances of banditry and kidnapping in the northwestern region, and disputes between farmers and herders in the north-central parts of the country. The occurrence of attacks and feelings of insecurity, specifically in the northern-eastern region, have led to the displacement of a significant number of individuals, severe damage to agricultural output and other means of subsistence, disruption of vital services, and the emergence of food shortages and the spread of illnesses like cholera, with no foreseeable resolution in sight (OCHA 2022b). According to the IOM Global Crisis Response Platform Nigeria (2022b), acts of violence committed by non-state armed groups in the northern region of the country have resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, increased levels of insecurity, and a surge in forced displacement and human rights abuses. According to Duru et al. (2021), Benue State, located in the north central region of Nigeria, is responsible for hosting a population of more than one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) within the country. In the northwestern region of Nigeria, a committee was established in 2019 by the governments of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States. This committee, led by Muhammad Abubakar, a former Inspector-General of Police, conducted an assessment and determined that from 2011 to 2019, a significant number of women, specifically 4,983, were left widowed. Additionally, the committee found that 25,050 children were orphaned and over 190,340 individuals were displaced in Zamfara State as a result of armed banditry (WANEP 2020). According to the UNHCR (2020), a total of 210,354 individuals have experienced internal displacement throughout 171 villages in the northwest region. Specifically, within Zamfara State, 144,496 individuals from 77 villages have been affected by this phenomenon. The study’s findings indicate that forced migration in West Africa is mostly attributed to violent crises instigated by non-state actors, namely Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), farmer-herder conflicts, and banditry within Nigeria. The present scenario has resemblance to the circumstances observed in Mali, wherein many armed factions, including the Tuareg and other non-state entities, have instigated widespread disorder and chaos within the country. The armed conflicts in the sub-region may not be effectively contained until the underlying causes of these conflicts are adequately addressed, as indicated by reports from numerous organisations. The factors encompass the substantial prevalence of poverty inside these nations, as seen by a poverty rate of 40 percent in Nigeria in 2018 (World Bank 2020). Numerous variables contribute to the emergence and perpetuation of wars in Nigeria. The majority of these indicators exhibit commonalities not only within the aforementioned countries, but also across the whole West African subregion. The determinants of war in Mali are not inscrutable, as stated by ACCORD (2021). These factors encompass political instability, inadequate governance, marginalisation, poverty, and limited livelihood opportunities. Numerous reports constantly indicate the existence of a significant humanitarian crisis resulting from involuntary migration in the West African region. This is substantiated by the substantial population of individuals classified as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and asylum seekers. This aligns with the findings presented in the report by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA, 2022b), which indicates that the severe impact on agricultural productivity and other means of subsistence, coupled with the disruption of crucial services, has led to adverse living conditions, compromised physical and mental health, increased food insecurity, and the emergence of diseases like cholera, without any clear resolution in sight. The actions taken by national governments in response to the forced migration issue in West Africa have exhibited a lack of promptness and an inability to adequately address the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. This finding aligns with the results of a research conducted by Iorbo (2022) in Benue State, Nigeria, which indicates that the current endeavours of the government and its collaborators are predominantly inadequate in addressing the requirements of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Internally displaced persons (IDPs) actively participate in the labour force by providing direct services to farm owners. However, they express dissatisfaction with the inadequate compensation they receive from their employers. They further emphasise that the salaries they earn as farm labourers are insufficient to cover their basic needs.

Recommendations

The occurrence of forced migration in Nigeria as a consequence of armed conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian crises within the affected regions. The aforementioned conflicts, predominantly instigated by non-state entities, were motivated by several factors including inadequate governance, the widespread availability of small guns and light weapons, and the presence of religious extremism. The aforementioned circumstances have led to the deprivation of means of subsistence and incalculable adversity experienced by women and children residing in Nigeria. The current response of national governments and domestic humanitarian institutions is insufficient in addressing the humanitarian crises occurring in Nigeria. Based on the aforementioned analysis, the present study proposes the subsequent recommendations:

It is imperative for the Nigerian government and relevant international organisations operating within the region to expedite the repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their respective places of origin. Nevertheless, in circumstances when repatriation is not feasible, it is imperative to establish suitable arrangements for the settlement and integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) within their host communities. In order to restore human dignity and enable internally displaced persons (IDPs) to enhance their livelihoods, it is imperative to ensure sufficient financial resources are allocated for the provision of shelter and other essential necessities. It is imperative for the Nigerian government to ensure the security of compelled migrants who express a willingness to repatriate to their indigenous residences. It is imperative for the Nigerian authorities to prioritise the safeguarding of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, particularly through the provision of nationality or citizenship to those who are unable to repatriate to their countries of origin. This measure is crucial in order to prevent instances of statelessness, as outlined in the 2017 Banjul Plan of Action on the Eradication of Statelessness.

REFERENCES

Image Reference: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/31/sudan-conflict-fuels-worlds-largest-internal-displacement

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