Mapping of human displacement by Boko Haram in Nigeria from 2009 to 2021

Abstract

Insurgencies by Boko Haram, a terrorist group operating in the north-west African states,   have negatively impacted the sense of national security in Nigeria. The activities of the sect have assumed political dimensions in that they have evaded all the possible technical and military solutions that have been implemented. The humanitarian crisis caused by incessant attacks by  Boko Haram sects has led to a growth in the population of internally displaced persons and the associated camps accommodating them. This research examined the activities of the Boko Haram sect and how they relate to internally displaced persons, as well as to the challenges faced by the latter from 2009 to 2021. The data used comprise data from the Armed Conflict and Location Event Data Database (ACLED), from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and geospatial data from Diva-GIS. The method that was applied for this purpose incorporated the use of GIS techniques for mapping the activities of the sect from 2009 to 2021: Microsoft Excel was used for the purposes of data refinement and analysis; while ArcGIS was used for the mapping of the camps of internally displaced persons, as well as for the hotspot and directional analyses in this particular context.. The findings of this research study show that Borno state experiences a 77% frequency of insurgency attacks,  followed by Yobe state with 11%. Over the years under study, 2015 is the year recording the highest number of fatalities in Nigeria, with Adamawa recording the highest number of fatalities in a state in spite of it being the least of all the states susceptible to terrorism. Borno, the most terrorized of the states, hosts the largest number of IDP camps but the challenges that these state experiences are relatively limited.