TERRORISM AND HUMAN DISPLACEMENT: AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ADAMAWA STATE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS HOSTED IN DURUMI IDP CAMP, ABUJA

Terrorism has been in existence from time immemorial and has become a global phenomenon that needed the concerted effort of all countries for the menace to be eradicated. Terrorism has also been evident in the African continent, especially in Nigeria where the act of terrorism is at its climax and has led to the heavy displacement of citizens in Nigeria. Despite the terrorism prevention act promulgated by the parliament in 2011, and amended in 2013, the acts of terrorism still persist in Nigeria. It is against this backdrop that this study examined the impact of terrorism on the indigenes of Adamawa State, also examined the causes of terrorism, and the strategies that have been helpful in combating terrorism and the endemic human displacement ravaging Adamawa State. This study adopted the hybrid methods, that is, the combination of both primary and the secondary source of data collection as interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) are adopted as a tool for data collection, while other data are retrieved from readymade works of scholars. This study after the field survey, realized that the terrorism in Adamawa State has had a great negative impact on the citizens of Adamawa State, many indigenes have been killed and thousands displaced. The study finds out that the causes of terrorism in Adamawa State are illiteracy and poverty, and that the strategies that have been helpful in containing the crisis are counter-terrorism and the establishment of IDP camps across the country where IDPs from Adamawa State are catered for. This study, therefore, recommends that the government of Nigeria should endeavor to give the basic needs of lives especially education and massive employment and strategize a way of economically reviving the victims of terror attacks and those displaced in Adamawa State. This study also recommends that the military should be strengthened by sending them abroad regularly for specialist training, in order for them to be able to effectively tackle terrorism and tackle the menace of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.