Rescued but Endangered? the Plight of Women and Children in Idp Camps in Northeast Nigeria

The accidental bombing of an internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camp in Rann, Borno state on 17 January 2017 by the Nigerian Airforce brought global attention to the danger IDPs face in the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency. More than 100 IDPs were killed in that attack, most of whom were women and children. Drawing on data and reports from international organizations such as UNICEF and Amnesty International, and media reports on the narratives of IDPs and aid organizations, the paper analyzes the plight and experiences of women and children in IDP camps in northeast Nigeria. The paper demonstrates that despite being rescued from Boko Haram’s captivity, the concentration of IDPs, particularly women and children, in camps exposes them to new forms of danger and victimization. The paper argues that the victimization of women and children in IDP camps is reminiscent and iterative of the cultural and structural violence against women and children in the society. In all, the paper adds to the scholarly conversations on the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency.