Difference in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of Internally Displaced Persons of Fulani Herdsmen Attack and Flood Victims in Benue State

Abstract

This study investigated the difference in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of internally displaced persons of Fulani herdsmen attack and flood victims in Benue State. Participants for the study were six hundred (600) internally displaced victims of Fulani herdsmen attack (360) and flood victims (240) of Benue State who were selected using various sampling techniques. The study employed an ex-post facto cross-sectional survey design to assess the level of post-traumatic stress disorder among the victims of Fulani herdsmen and flood disaster in Benue State. Data was collected with the aid of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PTSD-The Civilian Mississippi Scale). All responses from the 39 items were added to obtain a total score which correctly classifies 90% of all subjects as PTSD or non-PTSD. Data for this work was analysed using SPSS, version 21.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA) at 0.05 significance level. The result of the study indicated that, there was a significant difference in PTSD of IDPs of Fulani herdsmen attack and flood victims in Benue State (p<0.05) with the victims of Fulani Herdsmen attack recording higher PTSD than the victims of flood. The study also found gender differences in PTSD between males and females of Fulani herdsmen attack and flood victims in Benue State (p<0.05) with the females having higher PTSD than the males. Within the limitations of the study, it was recommended that, the root causes of the problems leading to internal displacement of people should be critically looked into. Thus, government of Benue State should implement the anti-open grazing law in the state to minimize clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Benue Famers to avert the issue of internal displacement of indigenes. Government should also play an active role in managing the practical issue of flood disaster other than only calculating and proposing solution by constructing appropriate drainages and ensuring that citizens vacate flood prone areas.