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Insecurity, Resource Scarcity, and Migration to Camps of Internally Displaced Persons in Northeast Nigeria

Author

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  • Frederic Noel Kamta

    (Research Group Climate Change and Security (CLISEC), Institute of Geography, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, 20144 Hamburg, Germany
    School of Integrated Climate System Sciences (SICSS), University of Hamburg, 20144 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Janpeter Schilling

    (Research Group Climate Change and Security (CLISEC), Institute of Geography, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, 20144 Hamburg, Germany
    Research Group Landuse Conflicts, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, 55118 Mainz, Germany
    Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany)

  • Jürgen Scheffran

    (Research Group Climate Change and Security (CLISEC), Institute of Geography, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, 20144 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

For almost two decades, the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) in general and northeast Nigeria in particular have been subject to the insurgency of the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram. This region is also known for its poor environmental conditions that mostly manifest in land desertification and water scarcity. We analyze the impact of the insecurity and conflict on migration from the most affected rural areas of northeast Nigeria to Maiduguri. We also explore the role that water scarcity and land desertification play in the decision of local people to migrate. Data were collected by interviewing 204 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Bakassi IDP camp in Maiduguri between March and May 2019. Experts were also interviewed at various governmental, non-governmental, and international institutions in Abuja. Respondents at the Bakassi IDP camp came from Guzamala, Gwoza, Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai. Though insecurity created by the conflict between Boko Haram insurgents and government forces was mentioned by all respondents as the main factor that triggered migration, this study shows that the decision to migrate was also a function of other factors that differ between communities. These factors include the geographical location of the community, land ownership, the socioeconomic status of the migrants, access to water and land, and wealth. This study reveals that in some communities, it was possible for people to live with conflict if they were still able to practice farming or if they had additional sources of income such as small businesses. The decision to migrate was only taken when the practice of such activities was no longer possible and they had nothing to hold on to.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederic Noel Kamta & Janpeter Schilling & Jürgen Scheffran, 2020. "Insecurity, Resource Scarcity, and Migration to Camps of Internally Displaced Persons in Northeast Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:6830-:d:402805
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marion Borderon & Patrick Sakdapolrak & Raya Muttarak & Endale Kebede & Raffaella Pagogna & Eva Sporer, 2019. "Migration influenced by environmental change in Africa: A systematic review of empirical evidence," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(18), pages 491-544.
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    4. Magdalena El Ghamari & Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz, 2020. "(Un)Sustainable Development of Minors in Libyan Refugee Camps in the Context of Conflict-Induced Migration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, June.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Oluwatuyi S. Olowoyeye & Rameshwar S. Kanwar, 2023. "Water and Food Sustainability in the Riparian Countries of Lake Chad in Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.
    2. Van Heugten, Loes & Bicker Caarten, Ashleigh & Merkle, Ortrun, 2021. "Giving Up Your Body to Enter Fortress Europe: Understanding the gendered experiences of sextortion of Nigerians migrating to the Netherlands," MERIT Working Papers 2021-050, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    3. George, Justin & Adelaja, Adesoji, 2022. "Armed conflicts, forced displacement and food security in host communities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Ludolph,Lars & Šedová,Barbora & Talevi,Marta, 2022. "Inequality and Security in the Aftermath of Internal Population Displacement Shocks :Evidence from Nigeria," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10053, The World Bank.
    5. Frederic Noel Kamta & Janpeter Schilling & Jürgen Scheffran, 2021. "Water Resources, Forced Migration and Tensions with Host Communities in the Nigerian Part of the Lake Chad Basin," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, March.
    6. He Huang & Yong Zhou & Yu-Jie Liu & Liang Xiao & Ke Li & Meng-Yao Li & Yang Tian & Fei Wu, 2021. "Source Apportionment and Ecological Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Cultivated Soils of Xiangzhou, China: A Combined Approach of Geographic Information System and Random Forest," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, January.

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