Joint communique by the chairs of the ten (10) communities to resolve the farmer-herder conflict in Benue State

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Nigeria
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint communique by the chairs of the ten (10) communities to resolve the farmer-herder conflict in Benue State
Date: 26 Mar 2020
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Nigeria - local agreements
Parties: Inter-communal communique issued by the chairs of ten communities in Benue state described as part of a mediation process.
Third parties: The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue are listed as Facilitating the joint statement.
Description: -

Agreement document: NG_200326_Joint communique by the chairs of the ten (10) communities to resolve the farmer-herder conflict in Benue State.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
Page 1, Preamble, ... TO RESOLVE THE FARMER-HERDER CONFLICT IN BENUE STATE ON UPHOLDING PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE DURING AND BEYOND...

General reference - the agreement generally speaks to conflict between farmers and herders and therefore some of the provisions address the assurance of allowing access of resource to herders so this could be considered as a cross reference to pastoralist/nomadism rights.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 2, 8. That the Federal and Benue State Governments should urgently assuage the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in view of the COVID-19 pandemic
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 2, 7. That the Government, political parties and the members of our communities should always ensure fair and equitable representation during the political process which follows the principles and guidelines of the Electoral Act
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 2, 8. That the Federal and Benue State Governments should urgently assuage the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Page 2, 3. ... fully comply with government directives and restrictions aimed at safeguarding our communities against the pandemic
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: Page 2, 7. That the Government, political parties and the members of our communities should always ensure fair and equitable representation during the political process which follows the principles and guidelines of the Electoral Act

Note - (The Electoral Act sets out and specifies the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission. See references in Implementation).
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 2, 3. That we shall individually and collectively, deliver life-saving information and materials, where available, to hard-to-reach populations within our communities

Page 2, 4. ... will continue to ensure access to our communities by HD, other peacebuilding organizations and medical organizations
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Liberty and security of person
Page 1, Preamble, ... In our determination and collective resolve to restate our deep concern for peace, security and safety of all persons
Socio-economic rights: Human rights and equality→Socio-economic rights→Health
Page 1, Preamble, ... our belief as partners of HD in its
Response Initiative, which focuses on the promotion and sharing lifesaving information with hard-to-reach populations, facilitate access to medical care

Page 2, 3. That we shall individually and collectively, deliver life-saving information and materials, where available, to hard-to-reach populations within our communities and fully comply with government directives and restrictions aimed at safeguarding our communities against the pandemic

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Other
Page 1, Preamble, ... Take cognizance of the disturbing misleading information on the COVID-19 (mainly abuse of liquor as a means of prevention to the COVID-19); poor sensitization of the pandemic at the grass roots and the social distancing affecting the cultural norms and beliefs

Page 1, Preamble, ... In our determination and collective resolve to restate our deep concern for peace, security and safety of all persons, and our belief as partners of HD in its Response Initiative, which focuses on the promotion and sharing lifesaving information with hard-to-reach populations

Page 1, 1. That communities with shared human community shall, during the period of' COVID-19 pandemic, and even beyond, seek to maintain peaceful coexistence by observing and disseminating basic health knowledge that prevents the spread of' corona virus within and beyond our communities

Page 2, 2. ... Such assistance includes sharing of vital and necessary information for preventive and curative measures against the corona virus in our shared communities and the adherence to healthy practices;

3.That we shall individually and collectively, deliver life-saving information and materials, where available, to hard-to-reach populations within our communities and fully comply with government directives and restrictions aimed at safeguarding our communities against the pandemic;

4. To use this occasion in declaring that none of us shall do or say anything, during the period of COVID-19 and beyond, that will endanger the health of Benue communities and those of other communities in Nigeria
Mobility/access: Page 2, 4. ... will continue to ensure access to our communities by HD, other peacebuilding organizations and medical organizations
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 2, 4. ... will continue to ensure access to our communities by HD, other peacebuilding organizations and medical organizations
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: Page 1, In our determination and collective resolve to restate our deep concern for peace, security and safety of all persons, and our belief as partners of HD in its Response Initiative, which focuses on the promotion and sharing lifesaving information with hard-to-reach populations, facilitate access to medical care
Cultural heritage: Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Intangible
Page 1, Preamble, ... poor sensitization of the pandemic at the grass roots and the social distancing affecting the cultural norms and beliefs
Environment: Page 1, Preamble, TO RESOLVE THE FARMER-HERDER CONFLICT IN BENUE STATE ON UPHOLDING PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE DURING AND BEYOND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

page 1, ... resolve the farmer-herder conflict in Benue State, upon the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO), that the Corona Disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic...

Page 1, ... Take cognizance of the disturbing misleading information on the COVID-19 (mainly abuse of liquor as a means of prevention to the COVID-19)

Page 1, ... That we, support the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's 23rd March 2020 call for an immediate global ceasefire on all hostilities in all conflicts of the world, in order to collectively fight against COVID-19

Page 1, We hereby resolve and affirm as follows;
1.That communities with shared human community shall, during the period of' COVID-19 pandemic, and even beyond, seek to maintain peacefUl coexistence by observing and disseminating basic health knowledge that prevents the spread of' corona virus within and beyond our communities;
2.To utilize this period of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to restate our combined resolve to shun issues that may cause conflict and undertake to assist each other to overcome the fears and anxieties that come with apprehensions of the Corona virus. Such assistance includes sharing of vital and necessary information for preventive and curative measures against the corona virus in our shared communities and the adherence to healthy practices

Page 2, 3. ... fully comply with government directives and restrictions aimed at safeguarding our communities against the pandemic
4. To use this occasion in declaring that none of us shall do or say anything, during the period of COVID-19 and beyond, that will endanger the health of Benue communities and those of other communities in Nigeria, and will continue to ensure access to our communities by HD, other peacebuilding organizations and medical organizations;
5. That we will at this period, where humanity shares the risks and agony of the outbreak of the pandemic, collectively reflect on how to maintain peaceful coexistence and seek peaceful means of resolving our differences, while bearing in mind our shared humanity

Page 2, 8. That the Federal and Benue State Governments should urgently assuage the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in view of the COVID-19 pandemic
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: Page 2, 6. Improve on the evolving issues to expose criminal members of our communities for the peace of the general society
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: Page 2, 6. Improve on the evolving issues to expose criminal members of our communities for the peace of the general society
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Sourced from https://twitter.com/hdcentre/status/1244622385246019584 (Accessed on 1/4/2020).

https://placng.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Electorl-Act-2010-Simplified.pdf

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE CHAIRS OF THE TEN (10) COMMUNITIES REPRESENTED AT THE MEDIATION PROCESS FACILITED BY THE CENTRE FOR HUMANITARIAN DIALOGUE (HD) TO RESOLVE THE FARMER-HERDER CONFLICT IN BENUE STATE ON UPHOLDING PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE DURING AND BEYOND THE

COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT BENUE HOTELS AND RESORT ON THURSDAY, 26TH MARCH, 2020

We, the Chairs of Agatu, Etulo, Fulani, Hausa, Idoma, Igbo, lgede, Jukun, Tiv and Yoruba ethnic groups - the Representatives of Communities at the ongoing Dialogue Process facilitated by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) to resolve the farmer-herder conflict in Benue State, upon the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO), that the Corona Disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic affecting over 160 countries across the globe, and having infected several Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or professional affiliation, hereby affirm thus:

Recognize that amidst the intra and inter-communal conflicts that range from clashes over fishponds;

farmer-herder clashes;

witchcraft;

cultism;

drug abuse/consumption of illicit substances;

extortion by youth and livestock guards;

cattle rustling and theft, view a period of distress like this to unite and defeat a common enemy far beyond the limited differences within and outside our communities.

We believe that a pandemic that respects no primordial differences in that it affects everyone irrespective of location, status or views, calls for our shared humanity;

Take cognizance of the disturbing misleading information on the COVID-19 (mainly abuse of liquor as a means of prevention to the COVID-19);

poor sensitization of the pandemic at the grass roots and the social distancing affecting the cultural norms and beliefs;

That we, support the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's 23rd March 2020 call for an immediate global ceasefire on all hostilities in all conflicts of the world, in order to collectively fight against COVID-19;

In our determination and collective resolve to restate our deep concern for peace, security and safety of all persons, and our belief as partners of HD in its COVID-19

Response Initiative, which focuses on the promotion and sharing lifesaving information with hard-to-reach populations, facilitate access to medical care and promote cessation of hostilities in our shared communities;

We hereby resolve and affirm as follows;

That communities with shared human community shall, during the period of' COVID-19 pandemic, and even beyond, seek to maintain peaceful coexistence by observing and disseminating basic health knowledge that prevents the spread of' corona virus within and beyond our communities;

To utilize this period of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to restate our combined resolve to shun issues that may cause conflict and undertake to assist each other to overcome the fears and anxieties that come with apprehensions of

Page 1 of 3

the Corona virus.

Such assistance includes sharing of vital and necessary information for preventive and curative measures against the corona virus in our shared communities and the adherence to healthy practices;

That we shall individually and collectively, deliver life-saving information and materials, where available, to hard-to-reach populations within our communities and fully comply with government directives and restrictions aimed at safeguarding our communities against the pandemic;

To use this occasion in declaring that none of us shall do or say anything, during the period of COVID-19 and beyond, that will endanger the health of Benue communities and those of other communities in Nigeria, and will continue to ensure access to our communities by HD, other peacebuilding organizations and medical organizations;

That we will at this period, where humanity shares the risks and agony of the outbreak of the pandemic, collectively reflect on how to maintain peaceful coexistence and seek peaceful means of resolving our differences, while bearing in mind our shared humanity;

Improve on the evolving issues to expose criminal members of our communities for the peace of the general society;

That the Government, political parties and the members of our communities should always ensure fair and equitable representation during the political process which follows the principles and guidelines of the Electoral Act;

That the Federal and Benue State Governments should urgently assuage the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Page 2 of 3