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In recent years, the Lake Chad region which is an intersection of four countries, namely; Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger, has been a major battleground of insurgency and political instability. Particularly, the emergence of Boko Haram and the devastating impact of its activities, exposed the vulnerability in the region. Poverty is prevalent in the region-a situation which has been argued as one of the factor accounting for successful operation of Boko Haram. In the midst of less economic activities, it is important to understand the psychological impact of insurgency on the lives of individuals who have moved from their indigenous homeland to resettle in new communities. Sixty-seven participants were interviewed from nine communities in Cameroon and Nigeria. Participants were psychologically affected by their losses; relatives, properties and even displacement from their homelands. Also, the limited economic activities in the region manifested in the inability of the people to have access to income generation activities. Notwithstanding, the host communities provided solace to the participants by accepting them as equal members of the society and integration in the communities. Most importantly, they see them as their brothers and sisters who have been displaced from their respective communities because of attacks from Boko Haram. The study has implication for policy-making, in terms of governments and international partners, exploring ways to create economic opportunities to advance the lives of refugees and internally displace persons (IDPs) in the region.

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