Women and girls remain disproportionately affected by the ongoing farmers-herders crisis and sit-at-home orders across Nigeria, according to findings presented by academics from Veritas University, Abuja.
At a roundtable organized by the university’s Centre for Peace and Development in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in West Africa, researchers examined the socio-economic and psychological toll of these crises on women and girls.
The event highlighted key studies on the subject, focusing on internally displaced persons (IDPs), gender-based violence (GBV), and the broader societal impacts.
Dr. Richard Gokum presented findings on the challenges faced by women and girls in IDP camps due to the farmers-herders conflict.
He noted that displacement exacerbates their vulnerability, exposing them to heightened risks of GBV and mental health challenges.
In these camps, inadequate security, resource scarcity, and the breakdown of social norms contribute to long-term psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Gokum further emphasized the health consequences for displaced women, citing disruptions in healthcare access and poor environmental conditions in the camps.
These factors increase maternal and child health risks, placing a heavy burden on women, who often serve as primary caregivers in economically strained environments.
The roundtable also explored the socio-economic impact of the Bwari conflict and sit-at-home orders in Enugu on women. Dr. Chinaemelum Okafor of the Department of History and International Relations discussed how these crises disrupt women’s lives through economic hardships, social marginalization, and GBV.
Okafor highlighted how traditional gender roles, such as caregiving and homemaking, position women at the center of conflict’s consequences while forcing them to develop resilience strategies.
The studies revealed the critical intersection between women’s social roles and the dynamics of conflict, underscoring the need for comprehensive measures to mitigate these effects.
The roundtable concluded with a call for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address the vulnerabilities of women and girls, emphasizing the importance of policy reforms and community-based solutions to alleviate their suffering.
