MAG has worked in Nigeria since 2016 and now addresses the humanitarian crisis in the northeast of the country with risk education classes for refugees and internally displaced people.
Why we work in Nigeria
Since hostilities began in 2009, northeast Nigeria and adjacent Cameroon, Chad and Niger have faced a humanitarian crisis with 20,000 people killed and 14.9 million others affected. An estimated 7.7 million people, including 4.3 million children, need humanitarian assistance – particularly in Borno State. To date, 1.6 million people have been internally displaced and 200,000 people are refugees in neighboring countries. More than 900,000 people could not access humanitarian support as of December 2017.
Conflicts between non-state armed groups, including Boko Haram, and security forces have left a large amount of locally-produced landmines and unexploded bombs littered throughout the region.
Casualties continue to rise as civilians in vehicles are injured or killed when they drive over improvised landmines, while people on foot activate them when farming, playing or fleeing from villages. From January 2016 to March 2018, MAG recorded 439 casualties from landmines and unexploded bombs in northeast Nigeria.
In addition, it is estimated that almost seven million weapons are held in Nigeria, the majority belonging to civilians. These locally-produced and relatively cheap weapons are often used illegally and can be trafficked through porous borders to fuel other regional conflicts.
Nigeria landmine emergency
Lend your voice to the people of Nigeria
MAG’s lessons make us aware of the dangers. We can be more confident now and the information will help us to be safe.
YakennaNigeria
How we help
MAG conducts mine risk education classes throughout Nigeria. These classes encourage at-risk populations to adopt safe behaviors to avoid accidents involving mines and unexploded bombs. From June 2017 to September 2018, we have reached over 167,000 people with these sessions, including more than 85,000 children.
Our research shows that after these sessions, people are much better able to identify explosive devices, making them more likely to stay safe.
MAG also provides armories, carries out technical assessments at weapons and ammunition storage sites, and trains armed and security forces personnel in armory storage and management.
