A two day conflict prevention and mitigation dialogue aimed at averting farmer herder clashes ahead of the 2026 farming season has concluded in Katsina State with stakeholders adopting concrete measures to strengthen coordination and sustain peace.
The engagement, held on May 5-6 at Katsina was organised under the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience CPCRR Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Mercy Corps in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the Centre for Democracy and Development.
Convened by Mercy Corps in collaboration with the Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock Development, the dialogue focused on addressing conflict risks linked to farming activities, particularly disputes over land, grazing routes and water resources.
The CPCRR Programme builds on previous conflict mitigation efforts and operates across 48 communities in 10 Local Government Areas in Katsina and Zamfara States, targeting the root causes of conflict while strengthening community resilience and supporting socio economic recovery.
More than 200 participants attended the dialogue, including representatives of government ministries, local authorities, farmers, herders, civil society organisations, media practitioners and development partners. The inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities reflected the programme’s commitment to inclusive peacebuilding.
Delivering his remarks, the Katsina State Commissioner for Livestock Development Hon. Ahmad Muhammad Bakori emphasised the need for sustained collaboration between farmers and herders, noting that peaceful coexistence remains essential to agricultural productivity and rural stability.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Dr Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa who was represented by the Commander of the Community Watch Corps Lt. Col. Sayaya rtd underscored the importance of intelligence sharing and community vigilance in preventing conflicts, particularly during the farming season.
The Mercy Corps representative Mr Phillips stressed the importance of strengthening community resilience through inclusive dialogue and sustained collaboration among stakeholders, noting that proactive engagement remains key to preventing conflicts and promoting peaceful coexistence in vulnerable communities.
Participants drawn from affected communities also provided field level insights. Dauda Adamu from Danmusa Local Government Area, Aminu Sale Imam from Batsari Local Government Area and Hafsat Rabi’u from Jibia Local Government Area highlighted the importance of sustained dialogue, mutual understanding and early conflict resolution mechanisms in maintaining peace at the grassroots.
Discussions throughout the dialogue centred on farmer herder relations, early warning signs of conflict and strengthening community based dispute resolution mechanisms, alongside clarifying the role of government institutions in maintaining peace and ensuring coordinated responses.
At the close of the engagement, stakeholders developed a joint conflict prevention and mitigation action plan for the 2026 farming season, providing a framework for coordinated interventions and timely response to emerging tensions.
The dialogue builds on the outcomes of a similar engagement held in 2024, which contributed to reduced tensions and improved collaboration among stakeholders while also addressing emerging challenges such as climate related pressures and increased competition over natural resources.
Under the CPCRR framework, Mercy Corps continues to implement interventions that strengthen local peace structures, support inclusive dialogue and deliver Quick Impact Projects in frontline local government areas including Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia, Kankara, Dandume, Faskari, Sabuwa and Safana.
