By Femi Bolaji

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported the resolution of over 2,775 disputes between farmers and herders across nine local government areas in Taraba and Adamawa states over the past two years.

The conflict resolution initiative was implemented under the Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflict over Natural Resources (COMITAS II) Project, which established 12 Community Response Network teams to mediate resource control disputes.

In Adamawa State, the project covered Demsa, Girei, Numan, Lamurde, Mayo-Belwa, Guyuk, and Shelleng LGAs, while Lau and Zing LGAs in Taraba State also benefited.

Aliyu Abdullahi, the IOM COMITAS II Project Team Lead for Numan LGA, provided insights into the project’s impact during a weekend briefing in Yola, the Adamawa state capital. He emphasized that reopening blocked cattle routes and providing infrastructure for both farming and herding communities were critical in fostering improved relationships between the groups.

Sustaining Peace-Building Efforts

The Taraba and Adamawa States Radio Listeners Club has established forums in 32 farming and herding communities to sustain the peace achieved during the COMITAS II project.

Speaking for the group, Christopher Sunday highlighted the importance of these clubs in promoting peaceful coexistence, especially through a peace-building radio talk show.

“The radio talk shows for farmers and herders, supported by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and aired across six FM stations in Taraba and Adamawa, have been instrumental in fostering collaboration and understanding between communities,” Sunday stated.

SFCG’s Media Coordinator, Victor Okpanachi, announced plans to equip the listeners’ clubs with public address systems, radio sets, and canopies. He also revealed ongoing discussions with the six radio stations to ensure the continuity of the talk shows beyond the lifespan of the COMITAS II project.

The collaborative initiatives underscore the importance of sustained dialogue and infrastructure development in addressing farmer-herder conflicts and promoting long-term peace in the region.