IOM Raises Alarm: Over 2.3 Million Displaced In North East Nigeria, Crisis Poses Complexity

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has highlighted the severity of the displacement crisis in Nigeria’s North-East, ranking it as one of the most intricate globally, impacting over 2.3 million individuals.

Laurent de Boeck, Nigerian Chief of Mission for IOM, raised concerns in Maiduguri, citing a new report titled “Intention Survey: Voices of Internally Displaced Persons in North East Nigeria.”

He attributed the significant displacement to violence by non-state armed groups and inter-communal clashes, alongside the exacerbating effects of climate change and environmental degradation in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.

“Since the crisis began, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has been instrumental in data collection and analysis,” Boeck stated, highlighting the role of the DTM in informing emergency humanitarian assistance and long-term solutions.

The report gathered data from over 25,000 displaced families across 107 local councils and 837 wards in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states between November 16 and December 18, 2023.

“Among the findings, 38 percent of IDPs expressed a preference for integration within host communities rather than remaining in camps or camp-like settings,” the report revealed.

Boeck emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration between government and non-governmental organizations to facilitate the return and reintegration of displaced persons effectively.