Farmers, Herders Sign 25 Peace Pacts In Plateau State

News in brief:

-25 peace pacts have been signed between farmers and herders in Plateau’s Bokkos and Riyom LGAs.

-The agreements aim to reduce land-use conflict and restore agricultural and pastoral productivity.

Farmers and herders in Plateau State recently signed 25 peace agreements designed to end recurring violence in Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas, two flashpoints of prolonged communal clashes in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

The agreements involve communities across six rural areas, including Sha, Bum and Sopp in Bokkos, as well as settlements in Riyom, where cycles of violence have disrupted farming activities, grazing operations and rural livelihoods.

Addressing Land-Use Tensions in Agrarian Zones

The conflicts in these areas have often been linked to competition over farmland, water resources and grazing routes, factors that directly affect agricultural production and livestock management.

Years of unrest have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of crops and property, and displacement of both crop farmers and pastoral households. The instability has also weakened local food production systems and disrupted seasonal planting and grazing patterns.

Stakeholders believe that structured peace accords are essential to stabilising land access arrangements and preventing further clashes during peak farming and transhumance periods.

Dialogue-Driven Reconciliation Process

The 25 pacts were reached following a series of dialogue and reconciliation sessions facilitated by relevant stakeholders. Community leaders, youth representatives, women and elders from both farming and herding groups participated in the negotiations.

Observers say the inclusion of both men and women reflects a broader community-wide commitment to restoring calm and rebuilding trust.

Participants expressed optimism that the agreements would promote coexistence, reduce retaliatory attacks and enable displaced households to resume agricultural and pastoral activities.

Implications for food security and rural livelihoods

Plateau State remains a significant agricultural hub, producing crops such as potatoes, maize and vegetables, alongside livestock rearing. Prolonged insecurity in key producing areas has implications for regional food supply and rural incomes.

Local leaders noted that sustainable peace would allow farmers to return to their fields and herders to access grazing corridors without fear, thereby improving productivity and market stability.

A Step Toward Resolving Middle Belt Conflicts

The signing of the peace agreements is widely regarded as a constructive step toward addressing persistent farmer-herder disputes in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt.

While stakeholders acknowledge that implementation and monitoring will be critical, the agreements signal renewed efforts to resolve one of Nigeria’s most enduring communal challenges through dialogue rather than violence.