Insurgency and internal displacement: implications on psychological health and agricultural development in Nigeria

Abstract

The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has left in its trail hundreds of thousands of its citizens dead and internally displaced. The Boko Haram group has been operating in Nigeria since the early 2000, but their operations took a deadly dimension around the year 2009 and increased steadily between 2010 and 2014 with abductions of youngsters and bomb blasts in places of worship, markets, offices, motor parks and so on. By 2014 there was a drastic increase in their menace causing unimaginable havoc in the country especially in the Northern states which could be described as the agricultural hub of the Nigerian economy. The rural dwellers who are predominantly farmers and pastoralist are more affected. Fleeing their homes, sources of income and livelihood contributes to the physical and psychosocial vulnerability for internally displaced persons who are already a neglected group since they do not ordinarily enjoy the privileges enjoyed by the refugees. The focus of this paper is on people who are internally displaced as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. This paper therefore takes a critical look at the implication of internal displacement on the psychological health and agricultural output of the victims which by extension affects the economy. Suggestions are made on the right policies to aid in regaining sustainable peace and security for all in the nation.