THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (INGOS) TOWARDS THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) IN MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE ISLAM’S STANDPOINT

Abstract

Nigeria has witnessed insurgency from Boko Haram since 2009. Boko Haram terrorist has unleash terror and fear in the minds of Nigerians that led to major displacement particularly in northeast which led to the larger displacement of people. This resulted in the establishment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State and elsewhere across the north east. The North-East region is reported to be the poorest region in Nigeria since 1985, with the highest incidence of poverty (ranging between 54.9%-72.2%. It has the highest unemployment rate and number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) totaling to about 11,360. According to United Nations refugee agency, 350,000 inhabitants of northeast Nigeria are now refugees in Cameroun, Chad and Niger. Besides, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has limited resources and capability to cater for their basic needs. In addition, the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in April 2014 admitted facing challenges in resettling 250,000 persons displaced in the northeast Nigeria by insurgents. No government can single handedly, take care of the devastating effect, as such the need for maintaining essential services like assisting internally displaced populations in areas of food supply, health care delivery, education, empowerment, water supply among others. Thus, greater involvement by local and International Non- Governmental Organizations is required to deliver humanitarian assistance to the victims of insurgency in the Northeast. This paper, therefore, attempts to assess the general activities of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) towards the management of IDPs in Maiduguri, Borno State and provides the Islamic viewpoint. The paper went further to proffer some recommendations for better management of IDPs.