Four Benue communities sign peace accord to end decade-long conflict

Four communities in Benue state have signed a peace accord to resolve their long-standing conflicts.

According to NAN, the agreement was signed between the Ologba and Egba communities in Agatu LGA and between the Tivs and Jukuns in Fiidi, Makurdi LGA.

The peace pact was signed on Sunday in Makurdi, the state capital, with a commitment from all sides to avoid returning to the conflict.

The decade-long feud was primarily over the ownership of natural resources, including fish ponds and farmlands.

International Alert, in collaboration with the Benue State Peace Commission, and local community-based organisations facilitated the peace agreement under the ‘Powering Peace through Climate Action Project’.

Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, International Alert’s country director, said the organisation had been working with marginalised and divided communities to foster dialogue and cooperation to rebuild trust and knowledge.

Nyulaku-Bemshima said the initiative was crucial in resolving the long-standing conflicts, worsened by ethnic tensions and the impact of climate change.

“We are delighted to witness the signing of this peace agreement between the Tivs and Jukuns in Fiidi, as well as the Ogba, Ologba, and Ekaida communities in Agatu,” he said.

“These communities have gone through a lengthy process of dialogue and negotiations over conflict issues.

“The conflicts revolve around disputes over land, water, and fish ponds.

“We employed participatory approaches, and they have now developed local peace and adaptation plans to address climate change impacts, foster social cohesion, and boost income.”

Also speaking, Sunday Jimoh, International Alert’s project manager, said the empowerment projects involved training programmes and the establishment of briquette-making factories.

He added that the projects also included the provision of industrial-level fish kiln machines and the installation of solar-powered boreholes.

On his part, Joseph Har, special adviser on security to the governor of Benue, praised International Alert’s efforts and encouraged the communities to uphold the agreement.

“I will make sure these resources are handed over to the chairman, who is the chief security officer of the local government, to ensure they are safeguarded,” he said.

“We are pleased that this peace agreement has happened during our tenure. Achieving this level of peace at this time is something we cannot take for granted.”

Josephine Habba, director general of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, called the peace agreement “a crucial step towards enduring peace”.

“In focusing on livelihoods for peace, we acknowledge that this is a foundation for development and a step towards promoting peaceful coexistence among communities,” she said.

“The project promotes entrepreneurship with an emphasis on peace values and conflict resolution, making it a successful climate action initiative for peace.”

Community leaders, including Godwin Onah, Ada Agatu, Zaki Gwaza, and Toundo Japhet, expressed gratitude to International Alert for resolving their conflicts and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and resources.

They noted that before the projects, they could not freely interact or visit each other’s communities, but can do so now that peace has been restored.