620,000 displaced by banditry, kidnapping in North-West – IOM
Nearly 620,000 people have been displaced by armed banditry and kidnapping across the North-West, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said. The figure represents about 84 per cent of the 737,073 internally displaced persons (IDPs) recorded across assessed states in the region, according to the organisation’s latest assessment. The IOM Chief of Mission in […]
Nearly 620,000 individuals have been forced from their homes by armed bandits and kidnappings in the North-West region, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This accounts for roughly 84% of the 737,073 internally displaced people (IDPs) documented across states within the area, as per the IOM's most recent evaluation.
Sharon Dimanche, the IOM's Chief of Mission in Nigeria, disclosed this information during a media conference on displacement and peace-building within the North-West region. Dimanche emphasized that insecurity remained the primary catalyst for displacement, with banditry and kidnappings compelling hundreds of thousands of residents to abandon their communities.
Katsina, alone, reported over 138,000 people displaced by both insecurity and natural disasters between January 2025 and January 2026, she stressed. She also noted that climate-related disasters were playing a role in displacement, resulting in the loss of livelihoods, disruptions to education, and a pervasive atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
The IOM chief further revealed that around 147,000 people had returned to their homes throughout the North-West, including more than 37,000 in Katsina. However, she cautioned that returning home did not guarantee lasting solutions to the challenges faced by displaced persons. "The critical question is: Can they remain? Can they rebuild their lives?
Can they feel secure once more?" Dimanche asked. Jean Nahesi, the IOM's Head of Sub-office in the North-West, and Programme Manager for Katsina, remarked that the organization's collaboration with the European Union through the FPI project was bolstering peace-building efforts, establishing early warning mechanisms, and enhancing community resilience in affected regions.
Nahesi called for ongoing cooperation among governments, communities, and development partners to tackle the underlying causes of displacement and establish the conditions for safe and permanent returns.
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