Struggling in the Shadows

Abstract This study explores the multifaceted challenges faced by the Bakassi Peninsula’s minority refugees in Nigeria, focusing on the impact of forced displacement on their political agency, social identity, and economic status. The study examines the historical context of the Bakassi dispute, highlighting the colonial and post-colonial dynamics that precipitated the conflict between Nigeria and Cameroon. Following the International Court of Justice’s 2002 ruling, which awarded the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, the forced displacement of indigenous Bakassi people to refugee camps in Nigeria has had profound repercussions. This study analyzes the socio-political and economic struggles encountered by these refugees, emphasizing the disruption of their traditional livelihoods and political disenfranchisement. By applying a political economy perspective, the research reveals how economic interests, particularly the control of oil resources, have influenced the conflict and subsequent refugee crisis. In addition, the study investigates the construction and reconstruction of refugee identities in the context of displacement and adaptation to new socio-political environments. Through a combination of historical analysis and contemporary case studies, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the enduring impacts of boundary disputes on minority populations and the complex interplay between forced displacement, identity, and political agency.