Stakeholders in Plateau State have unveiled a comprehensive roadmap aimed at ending decades of violent clashes between farmers and herders, even as fresh attacks underscore the urgency of the initiative.

The roadmap was launched at the headquarters of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency in Jos, with government officials, community leaders, civil society groups, and international partners in attendance. The state has endured an estimated 11,000 to 12,000 deaths over the past twenty years, with more than 420 communities attacked and thousands displaced.

A Fact Finding Committee set up by the administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang traced the protracted violence to competition over land and water, historical grievances, and deep seated ethnic mistrust. The new guideline seeks to tackle these root causes through community based mechanisms and practical tools for dispute resolution.

Director General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Dr Julie Sanda, represented by the Director of Programmes, Nantip Joseph, described the roadmap as a major step toward sustainable peace. She said the document focuses on preventing farmer herder conflicts that have long defined Plateau’s security narrative and insisted that the conversation around these tensions must be sustained until concrete solutions are achieved.

The initiative is part of the Supporting Pastoralism and Resilience in Northern Guinea (SPRiNG) programme, which targets conflict drivers linked to natural resources. Deputy Team Leader for SPRiNG, Priscilla Ankut, explained that research had shown how pressure on land and other resources often pushes communities toward violence. She said the guideline is designed to equip local actors with tools to prevent and resolve disputes fairly, justly, and transparently.

The roadmap, developed with support from the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law and funded by the UK Department for International Development, blends global best practices with local realities. Country Representative of HiiL, Ijeoma Nwafor, said the document was deliberately simplified, using visuals and clear language to ensure accessibility at the grassroots. She stressed that effective peacebuilding must focus on human experiences and the stories communities tell themselves about one another.

Despite the optimism around the launch, violence continues. On the same night the roadmap was unveiled, gunmen attacked Rim Village in Riyom Local Government Area, killing two people and injuring two others after a prolonged bout of sporadic gunfire. Community leaders condemned the assault and renewed calls for stronger security patrols and swift prosecution of perpetrators.