Landmark peace agreements have been signed between herders and farmers in parts of Plateau State in a renewed effort to strengthen inter-ethnic cooperation and reduce recurring clashes in rural communities.
The agreements, involving residents of Sha in Bokkos Local Government Area and Bum and Sopp communities in Riyom LGA, are aimed at addressing persistent tensions between the two dominant groups and fostering lasting social cohesion.
A total of 25 resolutions were endorsed by representatives of farmer and herder communities.
The process was facilitated by women leaders, youth actors, and members of disadvantaged groups, who played key roles in mediating dialogue and building trust.
The peace deal was brokered by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) with funding support from the German GIZ Peace Core II Project under the BMZ Nigeria Cooperation framework.
It followed six months of intensive engagement between the parties, during which they examined the root causes and triggers of violence in their communities.
Key issues addressed in the agreements include deliberate damage to farmlands and crops, compensation mechanisms for destroyed produce, obstruction of cattle routes and watering points, incidents of sexual violence, harassment and provocative utterances, and the practice of allowing underage children to graze livestock, often leading to crop destruction.
Other areas covered are procedures for implementing compensation claims, preventing violent reactions during disputes over grazing and farming activities, tackling drug and substance abuse, and addressing kidnappings.
The communities also resolved to end collective accusations and ethnic profiling linked to criminal acts.
The agreements were formalised during a learning and exchange workshop on building social cohesion in rural Plateau communities, held at Novel Hotel and Suites in Jos.
Speaking at the event, IFIT Country Director, Thomas Vimba Jnr., said the initiative sought to empower local actors to drive their own peace processes rather than impose external solutions.
He explained that IFIT facilitated negotiated settlements in six rural communities across Riyom and Bokkos LGAs by strengthening the leadership capacities of women, youths, and vulnerable groups, giving them platforms to co-facilitate dialogue and conflict resolution.
According to him, the project was conceived in response to rising violence in Plateau’s rural areas, with the primary objective of reducing farmer-herder conflicts through community-led solutions.
GIZ representative, Seth Keplan, noted that the Middle Belt region was selected because of its ethnic and religious diversity, making it particularly vulnerable to identity-based conflicts.
He described Plateau State as strategically important due to the “spillover effects” of violence, warning that instability in the state could have broader regional consequences. The project, he added, also targets neighbouring Nasarawa State to address cross-border conflict dynamics.
Director-General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Julie Sanda, described the initiative as part of a broader multi-stakeholder peacebuilding effort in the state.
She said the agency’s role is to coordinate peacebuilding interventions and ensure sustainability beyond the lifespan of donor-funded projects.
“Beyond coordination, we focus on building structures that can sustain peace efforts even after partners exit. Community engagement and social cohesion remain central to our mandate,” she said.
Sanda emphasised the importance of engaging directly with communities and empowering them to take ownership of the peace process, noting that sustainable solutions must come from those most affected by the conflict.
The agreements are seen as a significant step toward restoring trust and promoting peaceful coexistence in Plateau’s conflict-prone rural communities.
