Resilience of Rural Women amidst Conflict and Political Insecurity in Northern Igboland, Nigeria

Nigeria experienced a lot of political upheaval during the 2023 election and electioneering processes and Enugu-Ezike (located in the Southeast region) was not excluded. The displacement of thousands of people as well as the disruption of entire communities in diverse socio-geographic spaces occurred. The full impact of the conflict on women, families, and communities has not been studied. This study examined the impact of conflict and insecurity on women in Enugu-ezike. Focus group meetings and group and individual interviews were conducted with women in some of the communities where recurrent armed clashes occurred. Findings revealed a multi-layered impact of violent conflict. At the individual level, wastage of work hours, hunger, loss of skills & business capital, demoralization, trauma, distorted worldview, desperation, anxiety, increase in the level of dependence on aid, low self-esteem, and death were reported. At the meso level, the loss of family ties, exploitation and abuse of young women, and moral normlessness were experienced. Structurally, at the macro level, the impact included restriction of movement, school closures, and a halt to economic activities. Women also had some adaptive measures to ensure survival and to protect family well-being. They included the following strategies: establishment of neighborhood convenience shops, backyard vegetable gardens, home-based religious centers, and informal neighborhood education coaching centers. They also reported increased consumption of indigenous food and adaptation to locally-made agro-processing machines. Findings call for a proper post-election conflict impact assessment and help set the stage for understanding women's role in conflict resolution and peace-building.