Insurgency and the Invisible Displaced Population in Nigeria: A Situational Analysis

Abstract

Using the vulnerability theory, this article appraises the effects of the neglect of internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to the interpretation of the concept of internal displacement among national humanitarian stakeholders in Nigeria. Interviews and focus group discussions were employed for data collection in three selected informal IDP settlements, while data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. The study found that the destinations of IDPs determined the level of vulnerability as well as the protection they experienced during displacement. IDPs in informal settlement were very vulnerable in terms of their access to quality education, shelter, food, health care, and potable water as they were often cut off from the government’s humanitarian interventions and only visible to nongovernmental organizations and individual philanthropists who have limited means. It is therefore recommended that, there should be a holistic intervention mechanism in managing the displacement crisis in Nigeria irrespective of their resettlement destinations.