The Effects of Boko Haram induced rural-urban migration on Food Security in the Northeast, Nigeria: An Appraisal

Abstract

This paper appraises the effects of Boko Haram induced rural-urban migration on Food Security in the Northeast, Nigeria. The insurgency became active in 2009 and has decimated several communities, destroyed food crops, ruminant livestock and forced farmers to flee to protective camps. Many of the rural farmers now rely on food aid from international organizations, philanthropists or street begging. The attendant consequences of Boko Haram induced ruralurban migration are abandoned agricultural activities and inevitable food insecurity. This paper attempts a review of causes of the insurgence and its implication on food security, and individual household economy. Consequently, counter-terrorism initiatives should include both medium as well as long-term strategies. This means that a broad-based approach against terrorism that focuses not only on State-centric security but on human security, with a view to addressing the root causes of insecurity should be adopted. These could include the provision of basic infrastructure such as education, employment, good roads, electricity, and other poverty-reducing policies and programmes. In this way, the youths (especially from the almajirai pool) will be gainfully engaged and would not make themselves available for mobilization and recruitment as insurgents.