An Appraisal of the Impacts of Armed Conflicts and Insurgency on the Environment in Areas of Conflicts in Nigeria

Abstract

Insurgency and armed conflict have been a topical issue in Nigeria with devastating effects on the socioeconomic development of the country. The prevalence of this scourge has ravaged most parts of the Northern region of Nigeria. Different regimes in the country have grappled with armed conflicts and insurgencies in the past years with diverse results. From Boko Haram to banditry, as well as farmers and cattle herdsmen clashes, has left an indelible mark of destruction on the ambient environment within the affected regions. Armed conflicts and insurgencies no doubt pose significant threats not only to human lives but also to the environment. The paper seeks to explore the impacts of armed conflicts and insurgencies and the damages resulting from armed conflicts and insurgencies in places of conflicts in Nigeria in the face of existing legal frameworks by x-raying cases of armed conflicts in other areas of conflicts to expose the extent of the impacts on the environment in Nigeria. The effects of armed conflict and insurgency on the environment is contextualized critically to appraise the effectiveness of preventing environmental degradation during times of conflicts and insurgencies. In achieving the above objectives, the doctrinal research methodology is adopted to examine literatures and legislation relating to the environment affected by armed conflicts and insurgencies in Nigeria. It argues that environmental legislation in Nigeria have had very insignificant impacts in protecting the environment in areas where armed conflicts and insurgencies are ongoing. It therefore concludes that the legal and institutional frameworks for combating the effects of armed conflicts and insurgency in Nigeria should be reformed in order to address damages done to the environment in areas of armed conflicts and insurgencies in Nigeria.