Nigeria Situation Report, 12 December 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

• Borno State Government set to close more IDP camps.

• Heightened insecurity in Borno and Yobe States.

• COP28: Addressing growing climate change concerns in north-east Nigeria.

Situation Overview Borno State Government set to close more IDP camps

On 21 November, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, announced forthcoming plans for the closure of the Government Senior Science Secondary School (GSSSS) internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Monguno Local Government Area (LGA) to pave the way for the rehabilitation of the school for the resumption of academic activities.
The Governor offered the over 16,000 camp residents, most of whom are originally from Kukawa, Nganzai, Marte and Guzamala LGAs the options of relocating into 1,000 newly constructed houses in Monguno or returning to villages like Kekeno, Mile 90 and Yoyo among others to restart their lives.

Earlier in November, the governor announced plans for the closure of Kamcheji, Motor Park, Mohammed Kyari,
Kanumburi and Modu Kasa IDP camps in Dikwa LGA. He said that the more than 17,000 IDPs living in these camps will be resettled in Gajibo in Dikwa and Logomane in Ngala LGA. The Borno State Government recently completed the construction of 500 houses in Logomane while the construction of 500 houses in Gajibo is nearing completion. High congestion across the five IDP camps in Dikwa has degraded the quality of humanitarian services provided in the camps. The congestion is a result of IDPs self-settling between the already planned shelters. Lack of access to land for the construction of shelters and insecurity are major challenges affecting humanitarian operations in Dikwa.

Humanitarian actors are concerned about the safety of IDPs relocating to locations in fringe areas dominated by nonstate armed groups (NSAGs). Most of the areas of return lack rudimentary health care, education and other basic services. Those returning to these areas also lack access to land and livelihood opportunities. Humanitarian actors will continue to advocate for the Borno State Government to ensure the voluntary, informed and safe return of IDPs to locations of their choice and that the Government’s resettlement programme conforms with international norms.

Since January 2021, the Borno State Government has closed all the formal IDP camps in Maiduguri, offering IDPs resettlement options including returning to their places of origin, relocating to government-established housing settlements and integrating within local communities.

Heightened insecurity in Borno and Yobe States

The security situation in Borno and Yobe states remained fluid and unpredictable in November 2023. Multiple security incidents were reported including the abduction and killing of farmers in multiple communities in both states.
Residents in some remote communities were reported to have been killed for not paying money demanded by nonstate armed groups (NSAGs). The heightened insecurity in the states is triggered by various factors, particularly NSAG threats and attacks, mounting of illegal checkpoints along main supply routes, ambushes, use of explosive devices, heightened criminality and farmers/herders’ clashes.

On 5 November, suspected NSAG operatives killed at least 21 farmers and abducted several others in Monguno and Mafa LGAs of Borno State. A community source reported that the NSAG operatives arrested and shot 14 farmers (males) who were on their way to Kaluwa Village, 10 kilometres from Monguno, to purchase charcoal. 11 of the farmers died, while three managed to escape. On the same day, NSAG operatives killed 10 farmers in Koshebe and Zabarmari communities in Mafa, less than 20 kilometres from Maiduguri.

On 10 November, one person was reportedly killed while seven others sustained injuries following a clash between crop farmers and herders at Bayamari town in Bursari LGA of Yobe State. A reprisal attack led to the burning and destruction of several houses. A similar farmer-herder clash two weeks prior had left one person dead, many injured, and 13 houses razed at Galimbo and Jumbam communities in Bursari/Tarmuwa LGAs of Yobe State.

On 18 November, NSAGs allegedly attacked the convoy of the Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road, killing two policemen and injuring two others. On 27 November, suspected NSAG operatives killed 11 people who were making charcoal in Bale, a village in Damboa LGA of Borno State.

Humanitarian actors continue to advocate for and support the protection and well-being of affected communities in the BAY states.

COP28: Addressing growing climate change concerns in north-east Nigeria

As world leaders meet to agree on ways to tackle the climate crisis, the impact of climate change is being felt in northeast Nigeria. Widespread flooding, dry spells and desertification in north-east Nigeria are resulting in decreased crop production and limited grazing land for livestock. Climate change is exacerbating food insecurity and resource-based conflict in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states, and other parts of Nigeria.

Floods in October 2023 in Adamawa State impacted around 8,500 households, leading to mass displacements, particularly of women, children, and older persons. In August, farmers in Borno and Yobe State raised the alarm about drought that could impede this year’s harvest. Such extreme weather patterns, linked to the El Niño phenomenon, are further undermining food security.

According to the October 2023 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis on food insecurity about 3.3 million people in the BAY states will face high levels of food and nutrition insecurity from October to December 2023. This number is expected to increase to 4.4 million during the 2024 lean season (June to August), up from 4.3 million during the 2023 lean season.

State Governments are taking initiatives to combat climate change. On 20 November, the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni launched a tree-planting campaign, noting that 40 million assorted seedlings will be planted over five years to combat land degradation, desertification and erosion across the Yobe’s 17 LGAs. The Adamawa State Governor,
Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri also initiated a similar tree-planting campaign in October pledging to reward tree planters with N50,000 (about US$ 63) for every 100 trees planted annually. Meanwhile, Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, also flagged off a tree-planting campaign in September aiming to plant 1.2 million trees across Borno State.

Humanitarian actors are complementing the Government’s efforts to protect the environment. In March 2023, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the distribution of fuel-efficient stoves and briquettes in the BAY states. The intervention targets 49,700 vulnerable households, particularly women and girls. FAO also established six fuel-efficient stoves and seven briquette production centres across the BAY states to enhance access to fuel, and energy and provide a means of livelihood for vulnerable households, particularly women. An FAO postdistribution evaluation of households that received the stoves showed a 50 per cent reduction in firewood usage.