Armed conflicts and child nutritional health outcomes: evidence from the Fulani ethnic militia (FEM) conflict in Nigeria
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Date
2026
Authors
Amaka Nnaji
Olukorede Abiona
Omoniyi Alimi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AERC
Abstract
Increasing violent conflict has resulted in population displacement and the
destruction of livelihoods, thereby hindering economic growth. This study
estimates the association between early exposure to Fulani ethnic militia
(FEM) conflicts and subsequent child health outcomes in Nigeria. Using
nationally representative Nigerian General Household Survey data merged
with georeferenced FEM conflict data, the study shows that contemporaneous
exposure to FEM conflict is strongly associated with declining child health –
measured in terms of WAZ (short-term measure) or HAZ (long-term measure).
We also find that in-utero exposure to FEM conflict is weakly associated with
declining long-term child health but not with short-term child health.
Specifically, this effect is more severe in rural areas compared to urban areas.
Furthermore, girls are more affected by contemporaneous FEM conflict
exposure in the long-term health outcome, and boys are more susceptible to
FEM conflict exposure in the short-term health outcome. Older children are
more negatively affected by contemporaneous FEM conflict exposure.
Agricultural productivity, food security, and access to sanitary toilet facilities
appear to be the primary underlying channels of the estimated effects. Results
are robust to including other conflict measures and variations in weather
patterns. Findings highlight the need for conflict prevention and
peacebuilding efforts to resolve conflicts between farmers and herders