Perceived impact of conflicts and survival of children in benue state- nigeria
The role of faith-based organisations
Keywords:
Conflicts, religious crisis, Benue IDP, Benue Children, Fulani herdsmenAbstract
This article examines children as victims of violence in Benue State, Nigeria. The conflict is primarily said to be driven by the struggle for water, farmland and grazing areas in the state. There is the influence of religion which has led to the conflict escalation. Children no doubt have been at the receiving end in this escalating conflict. The conflict has forced thousands of children to be displaced. Internally displaced peoples camps were created to house the displaced children. It was discovered that there is a high level of humanitarian crises due to the reported cases of physical and sexual abuse of children, child trafficking, child prostitution, the use of displaced children for stealing from unsuspecting individuals and houses, among others. Many of the victims go silent due to the threat of relocation, ejection or eviction from the IDP camp by the aggressors. There are diversions and hoarding of relief materials and food meant for the children. Due to the failure of these strategies aimed at ameliorating the plight of IDPs, this study engages FBOs towards finding lasting solutions to the plight of children in the various IDP camps in Benue State. This is because a knowledge gap exists on the economic and social roles of FBOs in the present humanitarian crisis in Benue State. The phenomenological method of research was employed.
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