Nigeria: 620,000 Displaced By Banditry, Kidnapping in North-West - IOM

Nearly 620,000 individuals have been uprooted by banditry and kidnapping across Nigeria's North-West region, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This figure constitutes approximately 84% of the 737,073 internally displaced people (IDPs) documented in the assessed states of the area, based on the latest assessment conducted by the organization.

Sharon Dimanche, the IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, made these revelations during a media briefing in Katsina, emphasizing that insecurity remains the primary catalyst for displacement in the region, with armed banditry and kidnappings compelling hundreds of thousands to abandon their homes. Katsina alone reported over 138,000 people displaced by insecurity and natural disasters between January 2025 and January 2026, while climate-related calamities also contribute to the displacement crisis, causing families to lose livelihoods, disrupt education, and live in constant fear and uncertainty.

The IOM chief revealed that approximately 147,000 returnees have been recorded across the North-West, including more than 37,000 in Katsina. However, Dimanche cautioned that returning home does not guarantee a permanent resolution to the challenges faced by displaced persons, prompting the question: Can they truly find lasting solutions, rebuild their lives, and feel safe again?

Jean Nahesi, the IOM Head of Sub-office in the North-West and Programme Manager for Katsina, highlighted the organization's collaboration with the European Union through the FPI project, which aims to bolster peace-building, early warning systems, and community resilience in affected communities. Nahesi underscored the need for ongoing collaboration among governments, communities, and development partners to tackle the root causes of displacement and foster conditions for safe and durable returns.