Wellbeing of Persons Displaced by Communal Clashes in Ebonyi State, South East, Nigeria and Implications for Sustainable Development

Abstract

In Nigeria, apart from the Boko Haram mayhem, internal displacement resulting from communal clashes has become a thorn in the development agenda of the nation and other Sub-Saharan African countries. This paper examined the wellbeing of persons displaced by communal clashes in Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria and its implications for sustainable development. Realistic Conflict Theory was adopted as the theoretical orientation. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed while questionnaire and indepth interview formed the major instruments for data collection.120 respondents were chosen from three autonomous communities (Ezillo, Ndiagu-Alike and Abaomege) and administered with questionnaire on three wellbeing indices (health, economic and psycho-social) in addition to six participants purposively selected for in-depth interview ( IDI ). Respondents were chosen from communities that had once experienced communal clashes and displacement but now settled in their ancestral homes as there are no permanent IDP camps in the state. Data collected from the questionnaire were analysed using simple descriptive statistics while that of in-depth interview were transcribed and thematically done. Study findings revealed that displaced persons during communal clashes in the state were exposed to some health hazards as widespread of diseases (74.2%), inaccessibility to medical services(67.5%), malnutrition(55%), anxiety/depression, trauma (90.8%) and abridgement of social network(48.3%). The overall implication is that many of the displaced victims of communal clashes see their plight as a form of life sentence not prioritized in the nation's policy debates and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The study therefore recommended the urgent need for the government to establish permanent IDP camps in all the states rather than restricting it to victims of Boko Haram insurgency. In addition, victims should be given the necessary assistance as they are reintegrated into the society.