Landmines threaten livelihoods, hinder humanitarian aid in North-East – Group
By Diana Omueza
The IANSA Women Network Nigeria says the presence of landmines and explosives in the North-East is continuously endangering lives, destroying livelihoods and hindering delivery of critical humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
IANSA an International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network Nigeria is a non-profit, non-political, and a nongovernmental network of women groups working to stop the proliferation and misuse of Arms in Nigeria
Dr Mimidoo Achakpa, IANSA Country Representative, said this on Wednesday at a news conference organised in Abuja to address the newly released 2025 Landmine Monitor Report.
The 2025 International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) report indicates that 6,279 people were killed or and some injured globally in 2024 — the highest annual figure since 2020.
The report also showed that civilians accounted for 90 per cent of the casualties, with children constituting the majority.
Achakpa expressed concern over the escalating toll of landmines on civilians in Nigeria and other conflict-affected countries.
She warned that the recent global retreats from the Mine Ban Treaty by five countries and the withdrawal of funds by major donors would worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
“This year’s report reinforces what communities already know too well — that landmines continue to claim lives long after conflicts end.
“The world can not afford a reversal of commitments now. Nigeria’s experience shows that every landmine casualty is a human tragedy that ripples through families and communities.
“Nigeria has continued to record significant casualties, particularly in the North-East, due to landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and explosive remnants of war (ERW) linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP
“These incidents are restricting movement, disrupting livelihoods and obstructing humanitarian assistance to affected persons and communities,” she said.
Achakpa noted that in spite of rising casualties, donor support had declined, especially with the withdrawal of United States assistance and the termination of several humanitarian mine-action programmes.
She called on the Nigerian government, civil society organisations, and international partners to scale up support for mine action and victim assistance.
“We can not allow decades of progress to unravel. Women, children, farmers, and entire communities continue to bear the heaviest burden.
“Upholding the Mine Ban Treaty is not just a policy matter; it is a humanitarian imperative,” the IANSA Country Representative added.
Tamar Gabelnick, Director of ICBL, said governments must prevent further withdrawals from the treaty but reinforce global commitments to end the suffering of affected persons and communities.
Also speaking, Ruth Bottomley, Monitor Editor for Mine Action Funding, said the decline in funding for victim assistance was alarming and must be urgently reversed.
