Farmers and herders in six rural communities across Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State have signed 25 peace agreements ending years of violent conflict.

The agreements, reached by men and women from Sha, Bum and Sopp communities, mark a major step towards rebuilding cooperation in areas where repeated clashes have claimed lives, destroyed farmland and disrupted food production.

The peace pacts followed a series of structured dialogue and reconciliation meetings facilitated by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT). 

The engagements focused on strengthening social cohesion and addressing long-standing grievances in fragile, conflict-affected rural communities where farming and herding remain the backbone of local economies.

A senior district head from Bokkos Local Government Area, Lazaros David, described the process as both timely and essential, given the scale of insecurity faced by farmers and pastoral households.

According to him, the organisers sustained community engagement over time, ensuring that local concerns were identified and addressed directly.

“They followed the programme repeatedly to ensure its success. They identified our problems and discussed them together with us,” David said.

He added that community leaders would use trusted platforms such as churches and mosques to reinforce the agreements and promote peaceful coexistence.

Another participant, Chiroma Haruna Idris, said the move had helped both farmers and herders better understand shared challenges, particularly around land use, access to grazing routes and crop protection.

“Our participation has helped us understand the challenges we face, and we are confident that what we have learned will help us resolve our concerns peacefully,” he said.

The signed agreements, Idris noted, have laid the groundwork for reducing disruptions to farming and livestock activities, improving food security and supporting sustainable rural livelihoods across the affected communities.

Source: Channels