Farmers and Herders seal 25 Peace deals to end Bokkos–Riyom v!olence

Farmers and herders from six rural communities in Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State have signed 25 peace agreements aimed at ending years of deadly clashes and rebuilding fractured relationships.

The agreements involve men and women from Sha, Bum and Sopp communities, areas that have witnessed repeated violence resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.

The peace deals were reached after a series of dialogue and reconciliation meetings facilitated by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT). The engagements were designed to promote social cohesion and identify practical, community-driven solutions to persistent conflict in the affected areas.

A senior district head from Bokkos LGA, Lazaros David, described the initiative as timely, noting that the communities have endured significant hardship due to the recurring violence.

“They followed the programme consistently to ensure it succeeded. They sat with us, identified our problems and discussed them openly,” he said.

David expressed optimism that the agreements would not remain on paper, stressing that community leaders would leverage religious and social gatherings to sustain the peace efforts.

“Through platforms like churches and mosques, where our people regularly gather, we will continue to reinforce the message of peace and make sure it holds,” he added.

Another participant, Chiroma Haruna Idris, said the dialogue sessions helped both sides better understand each other’s concerns.

“Our coming together has given us deeper insight into the challenges we face. We believe what we’ve learned here will help us address our issues peacefully, without further disruption or confusion,” he said.

Idris added that the signed agreements provide a framework for resolving longstanding disputes and fostering cooperation between farming and herding communities in the area.