Information Seeking and Crisis Communication Among Displaced Persons in Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Benue State

This study examined information-seeking behaviour and crisis communication patterns among internally displaced persons residing in camps in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. Internal displacement, driven by farmer-herder conflicts in Benue State, has created large populations with acute information needs related to safety, relief services, legal rights, family reunification, and return conditions. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed, and data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 40 displaced persons, camp coordinators, and NGO information officers in four displacement camps across Makurdi, Gwer, and Logo local government areas. The study found that oral networks and community radio were the primary information channels, while formal humanitarian information services were poorly designed for the linguistic and literacy profiles of the displaced population. Critical information gaps on legal rights and return procedures were identified. The study developed an original crisis information dissemination model adapted for internally displaced populations in Nigerian conflict contexts and contributes to both humanitarian information studies and crisis communication theory. Keywords: displaced persons, information seeking, crisis communication, Benue State, humanitarian information.