Jos, Plateau State – February 11, 2026 — In a significant breakthrough for peace in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt region, farmers and herders from six rural communities spanning Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State have formally signed 25 separate peace agreements aimed at ending years of deadly communal clashes, cattle rustling, and reprisal attacks.
The agreements, facilitated through months of intensive dialogue supported by local traditional leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies, and international partners, were signed during a high-profile reconciliation ceremony held in Bokkos on Tuesday. The pacts commit both farming and herding communities to mutual non-aggression, respect for each other’s livelihoods, return of displaced persons, restitution for losses where possible, and the establishment of joint early-warning and conflict-resolution mechanisms.
The six communities involved are Daffo, Mangun, and Mwaghavul (predominantly farming areas in Bokkos LGA) and Rakok, Jol, and Riyom (mixed farming-herding settlements in Riyom LGA). These areas have been epicentres of recurring violence since the early 2000s, with hundreds of lives lost, thousands displaced, and widespread destruction of homes, farmlands, and livestock.
The 25 agreements cover specific issues such as:
- Prohibition of armed movement through farmlands during planting and harvest seasons
- Guidelines for cattle routes and grazing reserves to prevent encroachment on cultivated land
- Joint monitoring committees comprising equal numbers of farmers and herders
- Commitment to report criminal acts (including rustling) to security agencies rather than resorting to self-help
- Support for the safe return and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons
- Regular inter-community dialogue forums to address emerging tensions
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area, Hon. Monday Kassah, described the agreements as “a historic step toward lasting peace.” He commended the courage of community leaders on both sides for choosing dialogue over continued bloodshed, noting that the pacts were not imposed externally but emerged from genuine grassroots consensus.
The Plateau State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Musa Ashoms, hailed the development as a model for other conflict-prone areas in the state and across the Middle Belt. “These 25 agreements demonstrate that even in the most divided communities, peace is possible when people come together in good faith,” Ashoms said. “The state government will provide full support for implementation, including logistical assistance for joint patrols and funding for community reconciliation projects.”
Facilitators of the process included the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the Network of Nigerian Facilitators, and international partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Mercy Corps. Security agencies, including the Nigerian Army’s Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the Plateau State Police Command, provided security guarantees that enabled communities to meet without fear.
Community leaders from both sides expressed cautious optimism. A representative of the Mwaghavul farmers, Chief Nuhu Daffo, said: “We have lost too many lives, too many crops, too many children to this crisis. These agreements give us hope that our children can grow up without fear of attacks.” A herder leader from Riyom, Alhaji Ibrahim Rakok, added: “We are not enemies by nature. The criminal elements among us have exploited our differences. Today we are taking back control and choosing peace.”
The signing of the 25 peace deals follows a particularly violent period in late 2025, when clashes in Bokkos and Riyom claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds more. Analysts note that the agreements represent one of the most comprehensive community-level peace processes in the region in recent years, with the large number of distinct pacts reflecting the need to address localised grievances rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution.
Implementation remains the critical next phase. The agreements include provisions for quarterly review meetings, independent monitoring by civil society groups, and escalation protocols to security agencies if violations occur. Both communities have agreed to establish early-warning hotlines and joint market days to foster economic interaction and rebuild trust.
The Plateau State Government has pledged to support infrastructure projects—such as the rehabilitation of cattle routes, construction of water points, and demarcation of grazing reserves—to reduce friction over resources. Security operatives have also been directed to increase visible presence along contested boundaries during the initial implementation period.
While the agreements do not immediately resolve all underlying drivers of conflict—such as climate change impacts on grazing land, population pressure, and proliferation of small arms—their successful negotiation is widely regarded as a vital first step toward de-escalation.
Residents in the affected communities have welcomed the development, with many expressing hope that the new year will bring an end to the cycle of violence that has defined life in parts of Bokkos and Riyom for nearly two decades.
As implementation begins, local leaders, security agencies, and civil society partners will be closely watched to determine whether these 25 peace agreements can deliver the lasting reconciliation that has eluded the region for so long.
