Social Problems Among Internally Displaced Persons in Zamfara North, Zamfara State, Nigeria.

Background: Banditry and kidnaping continue to escalate Nigeria’s security crisis, threatening to engulf the nation in perpetual conflict. Zamfara State has been particularly affected by kidnaping, wanton destruction of lives and properties, and mass displacement of the population. These security threats have severely impacted livelihoods and family cohesion, creating a climate of fear and insecurity that discourages school attendance, causes homelessness, leads to job losses, and increases the risk of social disintegration. Objective: This study aimed to identify the social problems confronting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Zamfara North, Zamfara State, Nigeria, and provide solutions for government intervention. Methodology: A descriptive research design was employed. A multi-stage sampling design integrating cluster, quota, and snowball techniques was used to select 3,000 respondents across four local government areas (Shinkafi, Kaura-Namoda, Zurmi, and Birnin Magaji). The sample size was determined using the Yamane (1967) formula with a 1.78% margin of error from an estimated population of 61,500 IDPs. A structure questionnaire was used to obtain data and span for 6weeks Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests using SPSS version 18.0. Results: Of the 2,900 valid respondents, 42.4% (1,230) were aged 21-30 years, 65.9% (1,910) were married, 80.0% (2,320) were Hausa, and 75.0% (2,175) were male. Children (10-20 years) constituted 9.7% (280) and those aged 51 years and above constituted 6.6% (190). The chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between internal displacement and social problems (χ² = 1,282.102, df = 16, P = 0.000), although the association was weakly positive. The identified key social problems included financial hardship, unemployment, homelessness, education disruption, and child abuse, including rape. The study also revealed that the government has not recognized any IDP camps in the zone, leaving victims helpless and demoralized. Conclusion: The study successfully identified significant social problems among IDPs in Zamfara North, including financial hardship, unemployment, homelessness, educational disruption, and child abuse. Women and children were found to be the most vulnerable