In a significant step toward ending years of deadly violence, farmers and herders from six rural communities in Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State have signed 25 peace agreements aimed at restoring calm and rebuilding fractured relationships.
The agreements were reached by representatives — both men and women — from the communities of Sha, Bum, and Sopp, areas that have witnessed recurrent clashes resulting in loss of lives and widespread destruction of property.
The peace accords followed a series of structured dialogue and reconciliation sessions facilitated by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT). The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen social cohesion and develop sustainable solutions to conflict in fragile, violence-affected rural communities.
Lazaros David, a participant and senior district head from Bokkos LGA, described the process as both timely and necessary, given the scale of suffering endured by the communities.
“They followed the programme time after time to ensure its success. They identified our problems and discussed them together with us,” he said, commending the sustained grassroots engagement that brought rival groups to the same table.
David expressed optimism that the agreements would not remain symbolic but would be actively enforced. He noted that community leaders plan to use existing social and religious platforms — including churches and mosques — to reinforce the peace process and promote accountability.
“Where you often see your people, we’ll make sure this peace holds,” he added.
Another participant, Chiroma Haruna Idris, said the initiative has already begun to bridge divides between farming and herding communities by fostering better understanding and dialogue.
“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.
He added that the signed agreements provide a practical framework for resolving longstanding grievances and preventing future clashes.
The development marks a hopeful turning point for communities long scarred by violence, offering a pathway toward coexistence, mutual trust, and lasting stability in Plateau State’s conflict-prone rural areas.
