Key findings

Communities excluded from decision-making: Local populations feel excluded from national and international responses to the Boko Haram insurgency. They feel their fears, needs and concerns are not properly considered. Communities resent this lack of engagement and feel it leads to ineffective and inappropriate programming that is failing to reach the most vulnerable sections of society, and in some cases is making the situation worse.

Dialogue with Boko Haram as part of a peace strategy: The majority of people recognise that a military approach alone will not bring peace to the region and support engagement in dialogue with Boko Haram as part of a multifaceted approach to peace.

The risks of ‘imposed’ reintegration: Local populations feel that it is too soon for people associated with Boko Haram to be reintegrated into communities and that reintegration is being ‘imposed’, ignoring their fears and concerns. If this continues, it could lead to widespread reprisals.

Proliferation of wider divisions in society: The Boko Haram insurgency has led to wider divisions within society that threaten the long-term prospects for peace and reconciliation in the region. The insurgency has created or exacerbated tensions between different religious and ethnic groups, between Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and host communities, and between returning IDPs and members of their community who did not flee.

Public mistrust of government and security actors: Despite an improvement in relations between civilians and government and security institutions since the early years of the insurgency, the relationship is still characterised by high levels of mistrust, fear and suspicion.