Conflict-induced internal displacement is forced migration of global magnitude with over 53.2 million conflict-induced internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide. Nigeria is home to 3.2 million IDPs, who are in dire need of social inclusion and psychological rehabilitation. Using the social ecological model, social support theory, self-efficacy, and learned helplessness theories, this study examined the prevalent internal displacement crisis in Benue State, Nigeria, the measures put in place by the Federal and Benue State Governments and non-state humanitarian actors to rehabilitate IDPs, the challenges in the rehabilitation of IDPs, lived experiences, social inclusion and psychosocial issues of IDPs.

Using primary and secondary sources, this qualitative exploratory study used semi-structured interviews to get an in-depth understanding of the persistent internal displacement from policy experts; the available rehabilitation measures and challenges from policy implementers; and lived experience, social inclusion and psychosocial issues from IDPs using purposive sampling and snow-ball approach. A total of (n=28) participants comprising five females and seven males aged 18 years and above took part in the study. There were policy experts (n=7); policy implementers (n=9); and IDPs (n=12). IDPs included persons displaced by the armed Fulani herdsmen conflict and who had been displaced for at least one year and were residents in official or unofficial camps in Benue State Nigeria.

Using thematic, document, and phenomenology strategies for data analysis, study found that the persistent internal displacement is relates to the conflictual relations between stakeholders, their political interests, priorities and misapplication of policies. Using the social ecological model, these findings suggest that the interests and policy implementation strategies of governments and agencies have not prioritised solutions to address root causes and rehabilitate IDPs. Through the lenses of learned helplessness, self-efficacy and social support theories, findings also show that rehabilitation measures are not sustainable, not targeted and have failed to provide IDPs with opportunities for livelihoods recovery. Consequently, IDPs live in extremely poor and helpless conditions without adequate support. However, they remain hopeful and willing to restart their lives than resign to hopelessness. Furthermore, findings show evidence of IDPs dependence on the support of host communities for survival. Areas of host community support include low-wage informal jobs as labourers on the farms and often provide them with information on where to find such jobs. These cordial relationship makes them feel accepted by the host communities. However, incidences of host community fighting their way to benefit from humanitarian aid, fights between IDPs-host communities over host community resources like firewood, water, labour exploitation and discriminatory practices that limit socio-cultural participation make IDPs to doubt their belonging in these communities. The study concludes that the priorities and interconnected relations between stakeholders has direct effect on persistent displacement. It recommends stakeholder synergy and prioritisation of targeted measures for sustainable rehabilitation and integration of IDPs.