The report, authored by NUPI researchers Morten Bøås and Andreas Lind Kroknes and CDD’s Mala Mustapha, revealed that many IDPs are unwilling to return home due to violence, land disputes, and lack of basic services.

Presenting the report at the residence of Svein Baera, the Norwegian ambassador to Nigeria, Bøås noted a division between the Borno state government and humanitarian agencies on the timing of camp closures.

He said many IDPs are hesitant to return to their communities due to continued Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks despite the state government’s safe return strategy, which aims to close camps and resettle displaced persons.

“Despite the state government’s assurances of safety, a significant number of IDPs express deep fear about returning to areas still vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks,” the report reads.

“…While the government frames camp closures as part of a return to normalcy, humanitarian organisations argue that forced returns without security guarantees will only deepen the humanitarian crisis.”

In the report, a resident of Musari camp was quoted as saying, “I want to go back, but I don’t want to go back just to be killed by Boko Haram”.

About 67 percent of IDPs interviewed said they are willing to return within 12 months, but only if security and basic services are assured.

The report outlined major barriers to return, which include insecurity, loss of livelihoods, land disputes, and community breakdowns.

“Insecurity remains the most significant obstacle, with many areas still affected by Boko Haram attacks and the threat of landmines,” the report added.

“Years of displacement have severed IDPs from their traditional livelihoods, particularly farming and fishing.

“Younger IDPs, having spent their entire adolescence in camps, lack essential agricultural skills and face significant challenges in rebuilding their lives.

“Prolonged displacement has resulted in contested land ownership, with many returnees finding their property occupied or claimed by others.

“The absence of traditional leaders, such as the Bulamas, has weakened local mechanisms for resolving these disputes.”

Bøås noted that many younger IDPs prefer staying in urban centres rather than returning to their villages.

“There is a clear generational shift in preferences, with younger IDPs viewing rural return as a loss of opportunity rather than a restoration of normalcy,” he added.

“One IDP said the camp is the only home their children know. Returning to a village they’ve never seen is like going into the unknown.”

The report warns that “this urban drift is driving rapid, unplanned urbanisation in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

“The influx of IDPs into Maiduguri is straining the city’s already limited resources and worsening unemployment, housing shortages, and public health challenges,” the report added.

The researchers called for a balanced approach that strengthens security in return areas, provides robust livelihood support, and invests in urban planning to address the realities of permanent displacement.

They urged policymakers to include IDPs in decisions about their future and cautioned that while closing camps is necessary, a rushed process without proper safety measures could worsen the situation.

“IDPs must be part of the conversation to ensure their needs and concerns shape the solutions proposed,” the researchers said.

“Premature returns risk not only endangering lives but also undermining fragile gains in stabilisation and recovery efforts.”

The Norwegian ambassador advised stakeholders to adopt a pragmatic approach to addressing the complex challenges facing IDPs.

Baera emphasised the importance of striking a balance between humanitarian needs and developmental goals.