Conflict In The Middlebelt Region Of Nigeria: Engendering Peace In Agila Community Intervention by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Implemented by Women Environmental Programme (WEP) I Published by Women Environmental Programme (WEP) Abuja Nigeria www.wepnigeria.net © WEP 2009 Head Office Block E, Flat 2, Anambra Court Gaduwa Housing Estate Apo, After Legislative Quarters P. O Box 10176, Garki Abuja 900001 Nigeria E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Telephone: +234 (9) 672 1633 All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may be freely used and copied for educational and other non-commercial purposes, provided that any such reproduction is accompanied by an acknowledgement of WEP as the source. ISBN Disclaimer The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of Women Environmental Programme (WEP) and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Engendering of Peace in Agila Community project of Benue State Nigeria would forever be remembered, during the short time, which the WEP Team had the opportunity and privilege of working with community groups and individuals, meeting and interacting with the traditional leadership of Agila land, prominent sons and daughters of Agila, the Chairman of Ado LGA whose commitment and support was spot-on, the Benue State Government representatives and His Royal Highness Och'Idoma Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, to whom we would like to express our deepest appreciation. A special thanks to the Human Rights and Governance Unit of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who apart from supporting the project financially, their attitude, commitment and substance to the whole project implementation convincingly conveyed a spirit of success and excitement towards the whole process. Of particular mention are Dr. Abiodun Onadipe, Mr. Mathew Alao and Professor Sam Egwu. A special thanks to the Benue State Government team; of particular mention is the Surveyor General of Benue State, Zacharias T. Ade, who sacrificed everything towards the success of the project. Our thanks goes to the Permanent Secretary Internal Affairs, Advisors on Security Matters, Conflict Resolution and International Cooperation to the Governor, Benue State, whose contributions to the process are immeasurable. We would like to profoundly thank our Directors, especially Prof. David I. Ker (OON) and Mr. Yakubu Aliyu whose time and commitment brought about tremendous success in the project. We acknowledge the tremendous work done by: George Akor, Raphael Ikyaabo, Juliana Agema, Anne-Marie Abaagu, Sule Ojomini, Benjamin Baba, Elizabeth Jeiyol, Mne Kurudu, Rose Ojabo, Frank Yawon and Priscilla Achakpa. The Women for Peace in Agila Land, the youths, media practitioners, Hon. Rose Ameh, Mr. Gowon Obande and indeed too many numerous personalities to mention but to whom we are very grateful for their commitment to the success of the project. We appreciate the tremendous knowledge and work of our team of facilitators and resource persons, namely: Mr. A Igoche, Mrs. Betty Bassey, Mr. John Tsuwa, Mrs. Grace Atim and Mrs. Elizabeth Jeiyol. Iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Finally, this report is dedicated to all members of the community development groups who, despite the pains they had gone through during the violent conflict in their community, dedicated their time and efforts towards the peace process. Blessed are those that embrace peace For they shall be called sons and daughters of God Gospel of St. Mathew 5: 9 Iv PREFACE "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" George Orwell There are always two sides to a story factions (classified as the Royals and they say; perhaps there are more Non-royals) together. According to than two sides. In a conflict, truth is the traditional leaders and others in always the first casualty and prior to the communities, since the eruption that innocence is killed. People often of the conflict in 1997, only Women have their own axes to grind. And it Environmental Programme (WEP) is inevitably the poor and the has really been able to bring the two vulnerable that bear the brunt of the factions together for peace talks pain and suffering as a consequence despite interventions by others, both of conflicts. state and non-state actors. Some of the key challenges faced by The numerous governments' the post-military Nigerian states are judicial inquiry reports are yet to be that of the debacle of ethno- released and the recommendations communal conflicts which has led to they contain are unknown and thus the loss of precious lives and cannot be implemented. properties, creating a humanitarian This report provides an assessment p r o b l e m l e a d i n g t o f o r c e d of the conflict situation in the north migration, displacement of people central region of Nigeria, but focuses and dwindling social and economic o n e n g e n d e r i n g p e a c e a n d activities. Strengthening Community Based Early Warning and Conflict The interstate conflict between the Monitoring Mechanism in Central Ngbo of Ebonyi state and Agila States with the spotlight on the Agila people of Benue state dates back to Community. the 17th Century, while the intra- ethnic conflict in Agila has long It specifically examines the existed but erupted in 1997 intraethnic conflicts between the destroying properties worth of Agila people and interstate conflict millions and loss of lives and since between the Agila and Ngbo t h e n , t h o u g h s u c c e s s i v e communities of Benue and Ebonyi governments both military and States. Though the main focus of the civilian have intervened, they have project was on strengthening not been able to resolve the conflict community-based early warning nor have they been able to bring the a n d c o n f l i c t m o n i t o r i n g V PREFACE mechanisms, in the course of the especially the youth, by supporting project implementation peace activities that are detrimental to processes were also undertaken. development instead of investing in projects that would bring about Structures have been erected community development and towards the monitoring of the early enhance livelihoods and standards warning signals as well as the of living. transformation of the conflict into peace processes but it is worth For all those interested in peace stating that no matter what peace processes across the country and structures and processes are put in indeed in the north central states, place or whatever the intervention of this report will serve as a reference other external actors, it is only the material to researchers, students, Agila people's independent choice N G O s , g o v e r n m e n t a n d (as opposed to the intervention of international agencies as well as external forces) that truly matters higher institutions of learning. and would bring peace in the community. They must choose and We shall continue to contribute to decide what is best for them in terms the Nigeria's development agenda of stopping those whose source of especially in the area of human livelihoods depends on the conflicts rights and governance and therefore (conflict entrepreneurs) and those call on all in the promotion and elites (urban elites rural conflict support for peaceful co-existence. sponsors) whose families do not and would not reside in the community Priscilla M. Achakpa but who take pleasure in destroying Women Environmental Programme the lives of innocent people, Vi ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution CAC Corporate Affairs Commission CAN Christian Association of Nigeria CBOs Community Based Organisations CDAs Community Development Associations CLTS Community Led Total Sanitation CSOs Civil Society Organisations CWO Catholic Women Organisation EU European Union EXCO Executive FBOs Faith Based Organisations FCT Federal Capital Territory FEWER Forum on Early Warning and Early Response FGDs Focus Group Discussions Hon. Honourable HRC Human Rights Centre HRH His Royal Highness IEC Information, Educative & Communicative Materials IPCR Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution JDPC Justice Development and Peace Commission Km Kilometre LGA Local Government Area NBC National Boundary Commission NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations No. Number PICs Project Implementation Committees PR Public Relations TMG Transition Monitoring Group ToR Terms of Reference UNAED United Nations Assistance for Democracy UNDP United Nations Development Programme UN United Nations UNRISD United Nations Research Institute for Social Development WANEP West Africa Network for Peace Building WEP Women Environmental Programme WES Water and Sanitation Vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Strengthening of Community documented materials, in-depth Based Early Warning and Conflict interviews with representatives of Monitoring Mechanism in Central the conflicting parties through States intervention in Agila individual and focus-group Community was two-fold: It was discussions: targeting community based on the fact that conflict in leaders, women and youth groups, whatsoever dimension impacts government officials, civil society negatively on socio-economic and groups and religious groups p o l i t i c a l s t a b i l i t y t h e r e b y working with the parties. The project aggravating poverty and hampering team from WEP led the processes national development. with support of the local project implementation committees. The The second stems from the first, that workshops added value to the growth and development cannot be mapping