Spatial Determinants of IDP Camps in Greater Yola (2015-2025) Using DTM Data

This study analyses spatial distribution and common places of abode for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camp settings across Greater Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2019, amid Boko Haram insurgency displacement. Using Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), we mapped 15 camps across eight wards, revealing that 85-88% of IDPs (peaking at 29,000 in 2017) concentrated in peripheral fringes due to land availability and affordability, while core urban wards hosted only 12-15%. Descriptive spatial analysis and demographic surveys (n=269 household heads) highlight vulnerabilities, including 57% female respondents, 86% under age 50, and low education levels exacerbating livelihood challenges.Findings demonstrate non-uniform camp placement, with clustering in low-density outskirts (Namtari, Girei wards), driven by infrastructure constraints rather than security or services. This first ward-level DTM assessment in Adamawa underscores policy gaps in equitable displacement management. We recommend zoning reforms for balanced facility distribution to mitigate urban congestion and enhance resilience, informing scalable interventions amid Nigeria's >3 million IDPs.