Stakeholders from government agencies, security institutions, and community groups in Kaduna State have identified sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and justice as the most effective solutions to the recurring clashes between herders and farmers across the state.
The consensus emerged at a high-level policy dialogue held in Kaduna, organised by Global Peace Development (GPD) in partnership with ActionAid, SPRING, and Tetra Tech, with Soba Local Government Area serving as the focal point for discussions on community-level conflict resolution.
Participants agreed that reducing tensions in agrarian communities requires establishing open and continuous communication channels among all actors, especially in flashpoint areas where suspicion and misinformation often escalate into violence.
The meeting also underscored that fairness and justice must guide all decisions relating to land use, pastoral activities, and forest management, irrespective of ethnic, religious, or socio-cultural differences among the groups involved.
Stakeholders stressed that peace is a critical pillar of development and must be consciously nurtured by both farmers and herders to guarantee food security, social stability, and economic growth.
Presenting the findings of a research conducted by GPD across Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa States, the Executive Director of the organisation, Ebruke Onajite Esike, highlighted structural gaps that continue to fuel tensions.
According to him, the absence of enforceable by-laws, seasonal unemployment, farmland encroachment, dilapidated infrastructure, and weak institutional responses are among the major triggers of conflicts in affected communities.
Esike noted that in some areas, informal agreements between farmers and herders have reduced seasonal clashes, demonstrating that locally driven solutions often yield meaningful results when backed by community trust.
He urged governments at all levels to scale up investments in education, healthcare, and socio-economic infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals to create a more stable environment for coexistence.
According to him, communities with better infrastructure and stronger governance systems tend to experience fewer clashes because residents have greater economic opportunities and improved access to state institutions.
Esike also emphasized the need for sustainable synergy among civil society organisations, security agencies, and elected or appointed government officials to strengthen early warning systems and promote community-based peacebuilding.
The dialogue concluded with a unanimous call for continuous engagement, stronger policy frameworks, and proactive interventions to ensure long-term peace and stability in Kaduna State’s farming and pastoralist communities.
