Insurgency

Here is an academic abstract tailored for this research topic, structured to meet standard institutional guidelines (Background, Objective, Methodology, Findings, and Significance). Abstract This study examines the socio-economic effects of the Boko Haram insurgency on the Nigerian economy, tracking its evolution from the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to that of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2009–2015). This period marks the transformation of the group from a localized sectarian movement into a highly destructive, transnational terrorist network. Utilizing a historical and descriptive analytical framework reliant on secondary data sources—including institutional reports, national statistical archives, and academic literature—the study evaluates how the escalation of violence disrupted both regional and macroeconomic stability. The findings reveal that the insurgency acted as a severe structural shock to the Nigerian state, particularly within the Northeast geopolitical zone. At the microeconomic level, systemic attacks on farming communities, agrarian supply chains, and border corridors paralyzed the local agricultural economy, decimated regional trade with neighboring Sahelian nations, and precipitated a severe humanitarian and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) crisis. Regionally, the deliberate destruction of educational, healthcare, and telecommunications infrastructure crippled human capital development. At the macroeconomic level, the study demonstrates that the rising tide of insecurity forced a massive, non-developmental reallocation of public funds, as successive federal budgets heavily prioritized defense spending over critical infrastructure and social services. Furthermore, the heightened sovereign risk premium during the Jonathan administration slowed down Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in non-oil sectors. The study concludes that while Nigeria’s economy underwent a historic GDP rebasing in 2014, the insurgency deeply decoupled the Northeast from national growth, intensifying regional economic disparities. It recommends a policy shift that balances counter-insurgency military operations with aggressive economic rehabilitation, infrastructural reconstruction, and youth employment programs targeting vulnerable regions.

This study investigates the impacts of internal displacement due to insurgency on women and children in Nigeria, with a focus on the International Christian Centre, Uhogua, Benin City IDP camp. Driven by the Boko Haram insurgency and related conflicts, over 3.5 million Nigerians, predominantly women and children, are internally displaced as of 2024. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines qualitative data from in- depth interviews and focus group discussions with quantitative survey data from 100 participants (50 women and 50 children). Findings reveal severe disruptions in economic livelihoods, with 88–90% of respondents reporting reduced income opportunities, asset loss, and reliance on precarious informal activities. Psychologically, 92–93% noted high anxiety, hopelessness, and trauma symptoms, with only 23% acknowledging adequate mental health support. Access to healthcare and education is critically limited, with only 30% and 25% reporting sufficient services, respectively. Policy gaps are evident, with 90% highlighting inadequate economic interventions and weak government-NGO collaboration. Chi-square tests confirmed significant relationships between displacement and insurgency, economic livelihoods, and psychological effects. Grounded in ecological systems theory, vulnerability framework, and human security approach, the study recommends targeted economic empowerment, enhanced psychosocial support, improved healthcare and education access, and stronger policy implementation to address these challenges and foster resilience among displaced populations