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, the implemented the first phase of the Building Bridges for Peace (BB4Peace) project between December 2023 and September 2024 with support from the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law. 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.
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.
Implemented with support from the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme an initiative of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, 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 government institutions and community stakeholders on prevention, awareness, and peacebuilding initiatives.
By adopting a systems-based approach that simultaneously addresses economic pressures, substance use, 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 disproportionately impacted by the conflict yet often excluded from decisions affecting their safety and well-being.
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 and peace meetings increased significantly from 36% at baseline to 99.17% at endline, reflecting growing trust in dialogue as a mechanism for addressing conflict and community concerns.
Awareness and participation in joint farming and collaborative livelihood activities also expanded considerably, strengthening cooperation around shared economic interests and contributing to relationship-building between communities. The proportion of respondents who considered joint farming relevant to peacebuilding increased from 2.2% at baseline to 90% at endline.
The project further recorded major progress in addressing substance use challenges and youth vulnerability through awareness campaigns and sensitisation activities. Exposure to drug awareness interventions increased from 20% at baseline to over 99% at endline, while engagement with institutions such as the increased significantly across the project communities.
Beyond the quantitative findings, community members reported important improvements in social cohesion and relationships between groups. Respondents described reduced tensions, increased communication, improved freedom of movement, and stronger cooperation 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.”
Participants also reported emerging community-led accountability mechanisms addressing issues such as drug abuse, theft, and disputes before they escalate into violence. Increased visits during religious celebrations, shared farming activities, and collaborative dialogue sessions further reflected renewed trust and social interaction between communities.
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, collaborative livelihoods, and substance use prevention 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, digital storytelling, and awareness activities amplifying peacebuilding messages and community voices across and beyond Plateau State.
Download the Full Report Here.