International Law and Forced Displacement: Legal Protections for Internally Displaced Persons in Plateau State

This study examines the legal protections available to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Plateau State under international law, focusing on the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (the Kampala Convention). Plateau State has experienced recurrent farmer-herder conflicts resulting in large-scale forced displacement of communities across districts including Jos North, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom. The research employs a descriptive methodology, drawing on IDP camp monitoring reports, Kampala Convention implementation assessments, and recent academic literature on conflict-induced displacement in Nigeria's North Central zone. It evaluates Nigeria's ratification and domestication of the Kampala Convention, noting that while Nigeria ratified the Convention in 2012, the domestication process at federal and state levels remains incomplete. The paper examines the legal obligations of Plateau State government regarding durable solutions for IDPs, including return, resettlement, and local integration, and assesses current practice against these standards. Findings reveal persistent gaps including inadequate shelter, lack of documentation for displaced persons, restricted access to education and healthcare in IDP camps, and the absence of an IDP-specific state law. The study also identifies coordination failures between state and federal agencies responsible for IDP management. Recommendations include the enactment of a federal IDP Act implementing the Kampala Convention, enhanced inter-agency coordination on IDP durable solutions, and robust monitoring of displacement situations by Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission. Keywords: IDPs, Kampala Convention, Plateau State, forced displacement, North Central Nigeria.