Kaduna launches guidelines to curb farmer-herder conflicts
The Kaduna State Government has unveiled new guidelines for the prevention and resolution of land disputes between farmers and herders, in a renewed push to sustain peace and strengthen security
- From AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has unveiled new guidelines for the prevention and resolution of land disputes between farmers and herders, in a renewed push to sustain peace and strengthen security across the state.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shuaibu, said the initiative is designed to consolidate the gains recorded in tackling insecurity since 2023.
“You cannot talk about peace and progress in an atmosphere of conflict,” he said, noting that insecurity was the most pressing challenge inherited by the administration on assumption of office.
According to him, the security situation has improved significantly, with many areas previously considered unsafe now accessible.
“Today, the narrative has changed. We have adopted inclusive approaches and early warning systems that enable us to address conflicts before they escalate,” he added.
Shuaibu also commended development partners, particularly the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), for their sustained contributions to peace building efforts in the state.
“We must appreciate partners like HiiL who have worked tirelessly to promote peace, unity and progress in Kaduna State,” he said.
Earlier, HiiL Operations Officer and lead researcher, Mariam Abba, said the guidelines were developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders across affected states.
“This is the outcome of rigorous research involving key informant interviews and focus group discussions to ensure that diverse perspectives were captured,” she explained.
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Abba noted that the project, funded by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) programme, covered Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, and Benue states.
“We trained 2,400 persons across the four states, including 600 in Kaduna. Our expectation is to reduce the burden of farmer-herder cases in courts through mediation and community-based dispute resolution,” she said
Also speaking, the State Representative of SPRING, Baro Emmanuel, said the programme is aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and building community resilience.
“The goal is to ensure that conflicts, particularly farmer-herder disputes, are resolved through peaceful channels while also strengthening trust in institutions,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the newly launched guidelines would foster peaceful coexistence among communities in the state.
