Mediating Disputes Involving Internally Displaced Persons: A Post-Mortem of the Boko Haram Hostilities in Borno State of Nigeria
Mediating Disputes Involving Internally Displaced Persons: A Post-Mortem of the Boko Haram Hostilities in Borno State of Nigeria
Francis Ohiwere Oleghe
 
Abstract: The hostilities precipitated by Boko Haram in North-Eastern Nigeria caused mass displacements of persons in that geographical zone, with Borno State being the epicentre. Whereas the forced dislocation of persons from their communities raises grave international law concerns, how well an affected country resolves these concerns would largely depend on the effectiveness of its municipal laws. Many legal issues trail the dislocations and the return of once displaced persons to their devastated communities, one of which is access to justice. This article projects the near-lack of access to justice for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State, Nigeria and proposes mediation as a viable mechanism to provide better access to justice. Using empirical research methods, this article examines the Borno State’s legal framework for mediating disputes involving internally displaced persons against the backdrop of Islamic law. The focus of Borno State in this article is because of its robust legal framework for mediation practice and the plausibility of utilising such a legal framework to create access to justice for IDPs in all affected parts of North-Eastern Nigeria. As the international community is helping the Nigerian government to provide access to justice through mediation training in the troubled North-Eastern region, there is a need for Alternative Dispute Resolution and legal research institutions in Nigeria to support these efforts.

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