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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Environment & Climate

Banditry, climate shocks displace 737,073 in North-West, IOM

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Armed banditry and kidnapping have displaced 737,073 people in Nigeria's North-West, with 84% of them fleeing violence, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
  • Katsina and Zamfara states are the most affected, with over 180,000 and 261,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) respectively.
  • While nearly 147,000 have returned, the IOM stresses that safe and dignified rebuilding of lives is crucial for a durable solution, highlighting that displacement is a national issue affecting stability and development.

Nigeria's North-West region is grappling with a severe displacement crisis, with 737,073 people internally displaced, primarily due to armed banditry and kidnapping. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports that approximately 84% of these individuals, totaling around 620,000, have fled violence. Katsina State alone hosts nearly 181,000 IDPs, while neighboring Zamfara has the highest number with over 261,000.

A total of 737,073 internally displaced people have been recorded across the North-West states, assessed in IOM’s latest assessment reflected in this presentation.

— Sharon DimancheThe IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria provides the overall figure for internally displaced persons in the region.

Sharon Dimanche, IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, emphasized that displacement in the North-West is not merely a regional concern but a national issue with far-reaching consequences. It impacts food production, livelihoods, education, access to basic services, local economies, social cohesion, and ultimately, Nigeria's overall stability and development. Dimanche stressed that while nearly 147,000 people have returned to their homes across the region, including over 37,000 in Katsina, their return is not a guaranteed solution.

Here in Katsina, we are talking about almost 181,000 people who are displaced. In neighbouring Zamfara, the figure is over 261,000.

— Sharon DimancheDimanche details the displacement figures for two of the most affected states.

"The real question is, can they stay once they return? Can they rebuild their lives? Can they feel safe again?" Dimanche asked, highlighting the need for safety and dignity for returnees. She also noted the increasing contribution of climate-related disasters to population movements, alongside insecurity. In Katsina, between January 2025 and January 2026, over 138,000 people were displaced, with nearly 72,000 linked to floods and storms, and almost 60,000 to banditry and kidnapping. The IOM urges stakeholders to view displacement holistically, recognizing that affected families face similar consequences regardless of the cause.

At the same time, IOM recorded almost 147,000 returnees across the North-West, including more than 37,000 here in Katsina.

— Sharon DimancheThe IOM Chief of Mission shares the number of people who have returned to their homes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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