Project Background
Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) remains one of the recurrent conflict hotspots in Plateau State, where cycles of violence have been shaped by longstanding tensions between farming and herding communities. Key drivers of the conflict include competition over land and grazing routes, economic insecurity, divisive narratives, and the limited inclusion of women and young people in community decision-making and peace processes. Recent evidence has also shown that increasing levels of drug abuse among young people contribute to heightened aggression, weakened social cohesion, and the escalation of local disputes.
In response to these challenges, implemented the Building Bridges for Peace (BB4Peace) project between December 2023 and September 2024 with support from the . The project adopted a Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) and systems-thinking approach to better understand conflict dynamics in Riyom LGA. Through participatory mapping and stakeholder engagement processes, communities identified key drivers sustaining violence and co-developed locally owned solutions aimed at strengthening trust, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence.
Phase I of the project piloted community-led interventions including youth joint farming initiatives, citizens’ security meetings, intergenerational storytelling dialogues, and interfaith exchanges. These interventions contributed to improved communication, increased reliance on nonviolent dispute resolution mechanisms, and enhanced access to shared farmland in participating communities.
However, implementation findings revealed that the growing prevalence of drug abuse among young people continued to undermine peace gains by reinforcing mistrust, increasing impulsive behaviour, and amplifying conflict triggers. Although substance abuse emerged during the initial systems analysis, it was not prioritised as a major intervention area during Phase I. Lessons learned from the first phase demonstrated that addressing drug abuse is critical to sustaining peacebuilding outcomes and strengthening community resilience.
Building Bridges for Peace II therefore builds on these lessons while incorporating findings from the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) study titled “Drugs and Violent Conflict in North-Central Nigeria,” alongside broader regional and global evidence linking substance abuse, youth vulnerability, and violent conflict.
The project integrates targeted responses to drug abuse within existing community peace structures while strengthening dialogue platforms and collaborative livelihood opportunities. It supports young people to assume leadership roles within local conflict resolution processes and facilitates collaboration with institutions such as the and the on prevention, awareness, and peacebuilding initiatives.
By adopting a systems-based approach that simultaneously addresses economic pressures, substance abuse, and intercommunal tensions, the project seeks to strengthen community resilience and position young people as central actors in sustaining long-term peace and stability in Riyom LGA.
Findings and Emerging Impact
Communities in Riyom LGA have for years experienced recurring violence, deep mistrust, restricted movement, and disrupted livelihoods driven by farmer–herder tensions and limited opportunities for inclusive dialogue. These dynamics particularly affected women and young people, who were often excluded from decisions affecting their safety and well-being.
To contribute to addressing these challenges, the Building Bridges for Peace II: From Insights to Action project implemented a community-led peacebuilding approach combining inclusive dialogue platforms, youth-led initiatives, joint livelihood activities, and targeted drug awareness campaigns.
This report presents findings from baseline and endline assessments conducted across participating communities in Riyom LGA. The findings draw from both quantitative and qualitative data collected from community members, stakeholders, and project participants.
Within six months of implementation, the project recorded notable improvements in participation, awareness, and perceptions across the target communities. Participation in dialogue processes increased significantly from 36% at baseline to 90% at endline, reflecting growing trust in dialogue as a mechanism for addressing conflict and community concerns.
Awareness and participation in joint farming activities also expanded considerably, strengthening collaboration around shared economic interests and contributing to relationship-building between communities.
The project further recorded major progress in addressing drug abuse and youth vulnerability through awareness campaigns and sensitisation activities. Exposure to drug awareness interventions increased from 20% at baseline to 99% at endline, demonstrating broad community reach and increased engagement around issues affecting young people.
Beyond the quantitative findings, community members reported important improvements in social cohesion and relationships between groups. Respondents described reduced tensions, increased communication, and improved freedom of movement across communities that were previously divided by fear and mistrust. Women and young people who were often excluded from peace and community discussions are increasingly participating in and influencing local decision-making processes.
One community member reflected on the transformation in relationships:
“Before, just seeing them made me angry. Now we visit each other and live in peace.”
While the findings reflect strong progress within a relatively short implementation period, sustaining these gains will require continued investment in local ownership, inclusive participation, institutional collaboration, and economic cooperation between communities.
Overall, the findings suggest that community-driven peacebuilding approaches that combine inclusive dialogue, youth engagement, and shared livelihood initiatives can contribute to measurable improvements in trust, cooperation, and conflict management in fragile and conflict-affected communities.
The project directly reached 2,651 beneficiaries and indirectly reached 121,744 people through social media engagement and awareness activities.
Download the Full Report Here.