Farmers and herders from Bokkos and Riyom LGAs during dialogue sessions that led to the signing of 25 peace agreements.
Farmers and herders in six rural communities across Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State have signed 25 peace agreements in a major grassroots effort to end years of deadly clashes and rebuild trust.
The accords, involving men and women from Sha, Bum and Sopp communities, target the persistent cycle of violence that has led to loss of lives, displacement as well as destruction of property.
The agreements emerged from a series of structured dialogue and reconciliation sessions facilitated by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT). The initiative focuses on strengthening social cohesion and promoting locally driven solutions in fragile, conflict-affected rural areas.
A senior district head in Bokkos, Lazaros David, described the intervention as timely, saying the approach addressed the root causes of tension.
“They followed the programme time after time to ensure its success. They identified our problems and discussed them together with us,” he said.
David expressed optimism about compliance with the agreements, noting that community leaders would use religious and social platforms to sustain the peace process.
“Where you often see your people, we’ll make sure this peace holds,” he added.
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Another participant, Chiroma Haruna Idris, said the engagement helped both sides better understand shared challenges and reduced mutual suspicion.
“Our coming here has helped us understand the challenges, and we’re confident that what we’ve learned will assist us in addressing our common concerns peacefully without further disruption and confusion,” Idris said.
The initiative reflects growing recognition that community-level dialogue and locally negotiated agreements may offer more sustainable pathways to resolving Nigeria’s protracted farmer–herder conflict.
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