Residents of Bum community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State have united to implement existing peace agreements as part of a renewed effort to restore security and rebuild trust between farmers and pastoralists after years of violent conflict.
The commitment followed a Social Cohesion Workshop facilitated by the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP), held on February 14, 2026, at Government Secondary School Bum. The engagement examined how community-led implementation of peace agreements can strengthen security and support long-term development.
For more than two decades, repeated clashes between farmers and pastoralists in Bum disrupted livelihoods, displaced families, and undermined social harmony. Community members say the insecurity also limited agricultural productivity and economic activities across the area.
At the workshop, farmers, pastoralists, traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths, and peace advocates engaged in dialogue and jointly developed implementation strategies for eleven peace agreements, marking a shift from dialogue to concrete action.
Addressing participants, Amb. Nanribet Simon Longvwam, a 2025/2026 Fellow of COFP, described the process as a decisive step toward sustainable security, emphasizing that peace can only endure when communities collectively own and protect agreed frameworks.
“These agreements are commitments to coexistence, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for security and development,” Longvwam said.
He highlighted the inclusive nature of the engagement, noting that women and youths—often the most affected by conflict—were fully involved in designing the implementation strategies, while traditional leaders reaffirmed their roles as custodians of peace.
Longvwam added that the initiative reflects the peacebuilding vision of COFP and the enduring legacy of John Onaiyekan, whose commitment to interfaith dialogue continues to inspire grassroots peace efforts.
Participants expressed optimism that faithful implementation, monitoring, and accountability of the agreements would restore security, prevent renewed violence, and usher in a new era of stability and cooperation in Bum community.
