The Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at Taraba State University, in collaboration with the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, has urged government institutions, civil society groups, traditional rulers, security agencies, and development partners to strengthen collective efforts toward restoring lasting peace across Taraba State.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday at the end of a three-day National Conference on Violent Conflict and Peacebuilding held in Jalingo.
The conference brought together a wide range of participants—including academics, policymakers, security officials, traditional leaders, youth and women’s groups, civil society organizations, religious leaders, community stakeholders, and international partners—for what organizers described as a “robust reflection on Taraba’s escalating conflict dynamics and the urgent need for sustainable peace.”
The communiqué, jointly signed by Dr. Buhari Shehu Miapyen, Dr. Nsemba Edward Lenshie, Dr. Gabriel Yina, Hon. Oliver Sunday, and Mr. Jeetendra Shehu, expressed deep concern over the rising frequency and intensity of violence in the state. These include communal clashes, banditry, kidnappings, highway attacks, and the increasing use of sophisticated weapons by criminal networks.
Delegates also raised alarm over the spread of misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric on social media, particularly during politically sensitive periods, saying such content has worsened community tensions and fueled cycles of reprisal violence.
Devastating impact of insecurity
According to the communiqué, insecurity has taken a severe toll on the state—leading to loss of lives, destruction of homes and farmlands, mass displacement, disruptions to farming activities, economic setbacks, and repeated closures of schools and healthcare facilities.
The psychological burden was also highlighted, particularly trauma, fear, and long-term emotional distress experienced by women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
The conference identified several root causes of conflict, including ethnic mistrust, historical grievances, boundary disputes, political manipulation, weak governance systems, youth unemployment, and widespread poverty. Delayed justice mechanisms and miscommunication among religious groups were also cited as factors deepening social divisions.
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Key recommendations
To address the challenges, participants proposed a comprehensive framework that includes:
Strengthening hybrid security governance models
Expanding early-warning and rapid-response systems
Empowering youth through skills acquisition and economic support
Building climate resilience and promoting sustainable resource management
Institutionalizing multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms
Enhancing the justice system and promoting timely conflict resolution
Integrating peace education into schools and universities
Investing in security infrastructure and intelligence-gathering
Strengthening community policing structures
Supporting cultural exchange and inter-community trust-building
Encouraging responsible journalism to counter misinformation
While acknowledging ongoing peace efforts by the Taraba State Government and the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, participants stressed the need for deeper, more coordinated interventions, especially in conflict-prone localities such as Karim Lamido and Takum.
The communiqué commended traditional and religious leaders, civil society actors, security operatives, and international partners for their roles in peace education, community surveillance, grassroots mediation, and reconciliation across the state.
