Mrs Yachat Identifies Plateau Complex Layers Of Conflict

Yakubu Busari

A peacebuilding facilitator, Mrs. Rahab Yachat, has identified a lack of forgiveness, religious intolerance, weak land governance, and poor conflict analysis as some of the major underlying factors fueling recurring conflicts in Plateau State.

Mrs. Yachat made this observation while speaking at a two-day conflict management training workshop organized by AfriPeace and held at the Bishop’s Court in Jos.

According to her, conflicts in Plateau State have evolved over the years into complex administrative, economic, religious, ethnic, and marginalization-related challenges, largely due to the failure to properly analyze root causes before interventions are introduced.

She explained that findings from AfriPeace research reveal that poor or rushed conflict analysis often worsens crises rather than resolving them.

“Many peace accords fail because mediators sometimes compel parties to act outside the realities of their agreement,” she said. “Most communal conflicts revolve around land disputes between ethnic groups, and when justice is not properly served, tensions continue to escalate.”

Mrs. Yachat emphasized that land and water resources remain major drivers of conflict in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly as climate change continues to degrade the environment and restrict traditional grazing routes.

She noted that dry-season farming, food insecurity, and population growth have intensified competition over limited resources, leading to frequent clashes.

“Years ago, our forefathers had fewer people to cater for, and resources were more available,” she explained. “Today, population growth has increased demand, resulting in land grabbing and persistent disputes.”

She further attributed the crisis to weak land ownership systems and the absence of clear government structures for land acquisition, which, combined with climate change, have deepened insecurity across communities.

Mrs. Yachat also identified youth unemployment as a major trigger of violence, stating that idle youths are often easily mobilized for attacks and criminal activities.

She urged young people to look beyond the traditional expectation of white-collar jobs and explore productive alternatives for self-reliance.

Speaking on religious relations, she lamented that prolonged conflict has widened the divide between Christians and Muslims who once lived together in mutual trust and harmony.

“These are communities that shared love and understanding for many years,” she said. “Today, they live apart because conflicts of interest have replaced cooperation.”

Mrs. Yachat concluded by stressing the need for early warning systems, conflict mapping, and targeted preventive measures—especially in marginalized communities—to promote sustainable peace in Plateau State