Abstract:

This study sought to assess the psychosocial and health effects of Herdsmen attacks among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State, Nigeria. Six hundred and twenty-nine (male=305; female 324) internally displaced persons were used as sample. Their age range was between 18 and 65 years respectively with a mean age of 37.5. Instrument used for data collection was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which is a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. The internal consistency for the BDI ranges from .73 to .92 with a mean of .86. BDI was administered to the participants to measure the psychosocial effects of herdsmen attacks on the victims. Also, standardized General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was adopted to measure the effects of the herdsmen attacks on the health of IDPs in Benue State, Nigeria. Data analysis involved the use of Chi-square and multiple regressions. The study however revealed that victims of herdsmen attacks suffered from psychological trauma including stress, depression, mood swings and health related problems. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that the Government should work to provide psychosocial support services to victims as well as set up treatment centers to test and treat victims’ ailments and where possible, counseling sessions.

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