Assessing Social Reintegration Challenges for Internally Displaced Persons in Adamawa State

The insurgency-driven displacement crisis in North East Nigeria has created enduring social welfare challenges for millions of internally displaced persons seeking reintegration into their home communities. This study assesses the social reintegration challenges faced by internally displaced persons in Adamawa State, focusing on returnee communities in Yola North and Michika. A descriptive survey design is employed, with data collected from 100 displaced persons, social workers, and community leaders through structured questionnaires and interview guides. Descriptive statistics are applied in data analysis. The study finds that returnees encounter significant barriers to reintegration, including destroyed housing, loss of livelihoods, unresolved trauma, and community tensions arising from perceptions of collaboration with insurgents during displacement. Social work services for returnees are available through some NGOs and government agencies, but coverage is uneven and not systematically coordinated. Women and children are identified as the most vulnerable segments of the displaced population, requiring specialised protection and psychosocial services. Recommendations include developing a state-level reintegration framework that assigns social workers to returnee communities, providing trauma counselling alongside material assistance, and facilitating community dialogue to address social tensions that hinder returnee acceptance. Keywords: internally displaced persons, social reintegration, Adamawa State, conflict, psychosocial support