Plateau killings: Farmers, herders sign 25 peace agreements

Following the incessant killings and kidnappings across Plateau State and its environs, farmers and herders in the state have resorted to signing peace agreements.

The farmers and herders dwelling across six rural communities in Bokkos and Riyon Local Government Areas signed a total of 25 peace agreements, POLITICS NIGERIA gathered.

The agreements were reached between male and female delegations across communities of Sha, Bum and Sopp, to restore peace and rebuild trust after years of continuous conflict that have resulted in killing, kidnapping and destruction of property in the state.

According to the senior district head of Bokkos Local Government Area, Lazaros David, the agreement is sequel to a litany of dialogue and reconciliation engagements which were facilitated by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT).

The initiative, David said, is also part of efforts adopted by the people to strengthen social cohesion and encourage lasting solutions towards ending the violence in fragile, conflict-affected rural communities.

Also describing the initiative as timely and critical, given the scale of challenges faced by the communities, the district leader and the stakeholders have successfully brought communities together at the grassroots level through sustained engagement.

He also expressed confidence that the agreement would be rightly implemented by community leaders and clerics from both the Christian and Muslim religions.

“They followed the programme time after time to ensure its success. They identified our problems and discussed them together with us.

“Where you often see your people, we’ll make sure this peace holds,” David said.

Also speaking, Chiroma Idris, one of the participants said the initiative has helped him and most of his colleagues understand the challenges and ways to solve them.

“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.

The post Plateau killings: Farmers, herders sign 25 peace agreements appeared first on Politics Nigeria.