Declaration of Intent and Signatures
Export agreement:
- Country/entity
-
Nigeria
Plateau State - Region
-
Africa (excl MENA)
- Agreement name
- Declaration of Intent and Signatures
- Date
- 10 Jul 2013
- Agreement status
- Multiparty signed/agreed
- Interim arrangement
- Yes
- Agreement/conflict level
- Intrastate/local conflict
- Stage
- Pre-negotiation/process
- Conflict nature
- Inter-group
- Peace process
- Nigeria - Plateau State Process
- Parties
-
Signatures
Chairman of the Afizere Steering Committee Agwom Nyam Isha
Chairman of the Anaguta Steering Committee Aminu Agwom Zang
Chairman of the Berom Steering Committee Dr. Da Jonah Madugu
Chairman of the Fulani Steering Committee Alhaji Shehu Buba
Chairman of the Hausa Steering Committee Alhaji Umaru Sani - Third parties
- -
- Description
- A pre-negotiation agreement negotiated by Humanitarian Dialogue Centre between five ethnic groups in Nigeria, Plateau State - the Afizere, Anaguta, Berom, Fulani and Hausa. The Agreement lists the issues that need to be discussed, the different opinions on each of these issues by each ethnic group, the relevant stakeholders to be included in each issue, and a comprehensive time frame for addressing it (as well as activities to be conducted by Humanitarian Dialogue Centre to assist efforts). There are 30 issues over all addressing everything from governance, crime, transitional justice, access, the idigeneship issue, demarcation of boundaries, employment, the market, cultural heritage and sancations, among other issues.
- Agreement document
- NG_130710_Roadmap-Agenda-for-Discussion.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Local agreement properties
- Process type
-
Formal structured process
- Rationale
- There is a supporting body in the form of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, supporting this community led dialogue in order to identify the points of contention to move forward in the inter-communal process across multiple areas. These are clearly structured, with clear aims around community driven resolutions and consistent attempts at establishing clear process by encouraging inter-communal dialogue. This process appears to be part of a consistent inter-communal approach in these local areas of Plateau state throughout 2013.
- Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
- No
- Link to national process: articulated rationale
- The agreement is a roadmap agenda led by the steering committees of the communities concerned but the issues are all concerning conflict in highly localised areas. There is suggestion in the agreement text that the communities will request the presence of Federal and State government presence in future dialogues in the process as the issues raised concern their policy making. There is however no clear reference to the national process. Pending their involvement, there presence cannot yet qualify a link to national peace process.
- Name of Locale
- Jos
- Nature of Locale
- Region
- GPS Lat/Long (DD)
- 9.977890, 8.878816
- Participant type
-
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
- Mediator, facilitator or similar
- Mediator or similar referred to
- Mediator (references)
- The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is referenced in the agreement text as facilitating this inter-communal dialogue process. HD also commits to facilitating the follow up sessions of the inter-communal dialogue committee and the affiliated working sessions for the communities concerned, as there is a wish for the HD centre to do so.
- Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
- International or transnational actor
Local issues
- Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
- Page 3, 2. Religious tolerance and customs, Berom: There needs to be reciprocal respect for the culture, beliefs, religions and norms of other groups. Many Berom believe that Hausa and Fulani incursions are driven as a part of a jihad to take control first of Jos North, then Plateau State, and eventually Nigeria as a whole.
Page 4, 2. Religious tolerance and customs, ... There is a hate campaign going on by means of ethnicity and religion targeted to create suspicion
mistrust and disharmony against Hausa Community.
Page 5, 4. Reopen and secure religious places, Hausa: The Plateau State Authority should intervene and ensure the safety of worship places, particularly those at Rukuba Road and Tudun Wada in Jos North and that of Barkin Ladi LGA.
Fulani: The mosque in Mahanga village in Riyom should be reopened.
Berom: Christian places of worship inaccessible in many areas of Jos, for example in Anguwan Rogo, A/Rimi, Rikkos, etc.
Page 12, 18. Skill Acquisition, ... Hausa: Muslims and Christians should be sent in as security chiefs in coherence with the state and the federal law.
Page 13, 19. Appointments to state and federal institutions, ... Hausa: All Federal agencies, especially security outfits should be represented by both Muslims and Christians. The current security outfits headed by only Christians entrench fear and suspicion by the Muslims.
Page 14, 22. Access to government services, ... Fulani: Urge the Plateau State Government to respect the Fulani citizens’ rights irrespective of religion or tribe - Grievance List
- Page 4, 2. Religious tolerance and customs, Berom: There needs to be reciprocal respect for the culture, beliefs, religions and norms of other groups. Many Berom believe that Hausa and Fulani incursions are driven as a part of a jihad to take control first of Jos North, then Plateau State, and eventually Nigeria as a whole.
Anaguta: Hausa and Fulani do not respect traditions, customs and culture. Hausa and Fulani have married several ABA women, but attempts by ABA men to marry HF women result in the killing of the man, woman, or both.
Hausa: There had been deliberate attempt to distort the history of the old Jos Division on the Plateau through several jaundiced newspaper articles and publications. There is a hate campaign going on by means of ethnicity and religion targeted to create suspicion mistrust and disharmony against Hausa Community.
Page 4, 3. Governance issues, ... Hausa: There is a need for good governance. The issue of marginalization and exclusion of Hausa community from
Governance structures/Social-Economic empowerment need to be resolved. Also, issue of impunity of groups committing crime, including murder arson/destruction of property is wide spread
Page 5, 4. Reopen and secure religious places, Hausa: The Plateau State Authority should intervene and ensure the safety of
worship places, particularly those at Rukuba Road and Tudun Wada in Jos North and that of Barkin Ladi LGA.
Fulani: The mosque in Mahanga village in Riyom should be reopened.
Berom: Christian places of worship inaccessible in many areas of Jos, for example in Anguwan Rogo, A/Rimi, Rikkos, etc.
5. Blockage of Highways and other roads, Hausa and Fulani: Reopen the highway between Barikin-Ladi along Jos road, the Abuja-Jos Road and Bukuru-NIPSS Vom Road blocked by Berom youths.
6. Return burial grounds, Hausa: The illegal confiscation of the burial grounds in Jos North, Jos South (Bukuru) and Barkin Ladi as well as other places need to be urgently addressed. The Hausa community must be allowed to bury their dead at both legitimately acquired and Government designated grave yards.
Page 6, 7. Access to grazing reserves and carrying out farming practices, Fulani: Berom people, with connivance of the Plateau State Government and the Police, have denied the Fulanis the right to carry out business practices and farming activities by confiscation of farmlands and attacks and
destruction of Fulani properties. Security operatives intimidate Fulani herdsman and block them from getting access to the areas to feed their cattle. Fulani urge the agencies concerned to ensure that Fulani people can freely exercise their constitutional rights. About 60% of the grazing reserve in Wase LGA of Plateau State has been taken over by farmers and the Government of Plateau State has been irresponsive. The government should in joint effort with Berom Elders ensure that grazing reserves are protected, or are created where they do not, in all farmer/grazer flashpoints particularly in Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs. Berom people continue to cultivate and build their houses on areas officially designated as cattle routes and grazing reserves. Plateau State Government refused to take action.
Fulani: Local and international cattle routes which pass through Plateau State should be clearly mapped out and safeguarded against encroachment by farmers and builders.
Page 7, 9. Stop detention of youths and other persons, Fulani: Unwarranted arrests and harassment of Fulani people must stop. Fulani youth below the age of 18 are still in police detention. Dialogue should be established to insist on their freedom.
Page 8, 10. Illegal occupation of land, Berom: There can be no “no-go-areas” for Berom. Demand that attacks and killing by Hausa and Fulani people, the destruction of homes and crops must stop. Annexation of lands must stop. All displaced Berom people return to their homes and settlements while annexed lands revert to their owners. There are ongoing attacks by the Fulani living in the countryside in Jos South, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs.
Page 8, 10. Illegal occupation of land, ... Anaguta: Hausa and Fulani illegal occupation of Anaguta land.
Afizere: have been displaced from their traditional settlements in Rikkos and parts of Jos Jarawa. The Government should support people to rehabilitate their damaged living spaces. Entrenchment into Afizere ancestral lands, and attempts of renaming village areas and places should stop, particularly in Dong, Gyese, Kabong and Katon Rikkos.
Hausa: Resettlement of displaced communities back to where they were before the crises.
Fulani: Berom confiscate Fulani farmlands and attack and destroy properties
(also refer to 8).
Page 9, 11. Sanctions, and fighting impunity, Berom: Punishment and sanctions should be meted out to those responsible for reoccurring conflict and violence.
Anaguta: Sanctions for those responsible for crimes. Government establish high power committee to review recommendations in past reports for implementation.
Hausa: Accuse youths of killings and destruction and looting of properties, sacking of more than 40 Hausa settlements. Would belong to highway issue, land annexations.
Page 9, 13. Naming of cities, villages and regions, ... Anaguta: Historical areas must not be renamed. Anaguta observe the distortion of history by the Afizere, Berom, Hausa and Fulani where historical areas are renamed to give support to false claims of ownership.
Hausa: There had been deliberate attempt to distort the history of the old Jos Division on the Plateau through newspaper articles and publications.
Page 10, 15. Cattle rustling, Berom: The Fulani rustled dwarf (muturu) and other cattle of the Berom.
Anaguta: Any attempt at monetary compensation may provide conduit for settling phantom claims including for those from unscrupulous officials etc.
Fulani: Increase in cattle rustling of the Berom from the Fulani. Vwang-vom district is used to hide these cows and the area has become a no-go-area.
The Berom people should take steps to return all cows – or monetary compensation for them - stolen or taken away from the Fulani. Places were cattle are rustled into include Fan in Barakin LGA and Gyel in Jos-south LGA.
Page 10, 16. Support of the Commission for conflicts concerning farmer/grazer., ... The Commission should be tasked with the responsibility of settling all farmer/grazer conflicts as well as the creation of grazing reserves in the country, under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The commission should also regulate the administration of national and international stock routes or map them out properly, establish and protect these routes.
Page 11, 17. Increase Employment (in particular for youths), ... Anaguta: The Government should develop a policy that enhances the setting up of small scale industries in the agroallied and construction sectors. They add government should prioritize agriculture to provide employment to the youths. Further, government should assist in resuscitating its ailing industries. Federal Government should ensure the enforcement of the employment of officers from grade levels 01-06 from the catchment areas.
Afizere: In particular, there should be more women and youths government policies and programs for their rehabilitations. Poverty and unemployment among the youths needs to be addressed.
Hausa: Cessation of all forms of discrimination especially in the areas of education and employment support.
Page 11, 18. Skill acquisition, Anaguta: Development of skill acquisition centres in various disciplines which will help to expose youths and women to various opportunities. It will help in creating self-employment and the reduction of pressure on Government.
Page 11, 18. Skill acquisition, ... Hausa: Poverty eradication through skill acquisition. Deliberately excluded from poverty alleviation programs and indigene certificates.
Page 12, 19. Appointments to state and federal institutions, Berom: The federal character of appointments into federal establishments, including the army, police force and other para-military services are abused to marginalize the Berom and other indigenes. Need for review.
Page 12, 19. Appointments to state and federal institutions, ... Afizere: The practice of employment in Jos North LGC discriminates against Afizere in the Local Government, at State and Federal levels.
Hausa: All Federal agencies, especially security outfits should be represented by both Muslims and Christians. The current security outfits headed by only Christians entrench fear and suspicion by the Muslims.
Fulani: Berom people have frustrated efforts of Fulani people to be employed in Government establishments/agencies.
Page 14, 21. Reparations and Compensations, Berom: Demand restitution, compensation and reparation for the damages and destructions inflicted on the Berom, their land, settlements, infrastructure, foodstuff, cattle etc.
Afizere: Seek for compensation and restitution for human and material losses.
Hausa: Compensation to affected victims suffered of the various carnages – both material and personal losses.
Fulani: Compensation for damages and losses suffered, to cover lives and properties.
Anaguta: Compensation should be paid to all as everybody suffered in various degrees
Page 14, 22. Access to government services, Hausa: Cessation of all forms of discrimination, particularly in the areas of education, employment support such as poverty eradication and provision of social services and amenities. Denial of the right to education and basic amenities to the Hausa should (b)e addressed by the Plateau State Government and all agencies concerned.
Fulani: Urge the Plateau State Government to respect the Fulani citizens’ rights irrespective of religion or tribe and extend development projects such as roads, hospitals, portable water, electricity etc. to Fulani people. Plateau State Government has neglected nomadic schools, which are the only means of education for Fulani people. The Fulani Community calls for the establishment of more nomadic schools, particularly in Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs. It also calls for urgent renovation and development of the existing nomadic schools in Plateau State.
Page 15, Respect for traditional leadership & structures, Berom: Hausa Fulani must withdraw any claims to traditional rulership in Jos or the districts or to the creation of districts in Jos or in other areas of Beromland. They should recognise and respect Berom traditional institutions.
Page 15, Respect for traditional leadership & structures, ... Afizere: Further gaps in government have been created through abolishment of Development Areas and additional chiefdoms and districts. The Afizere Chiefdom in Jos North LGA has been rendered non-functional. Afizere deserve to be integrated into the system and the chieftaincy institution should be recognized. Government should recognize and respect the chiefdom and districts earlier created, in particular the Jos Izere Chiefdom. The Afizere Paramount Traditional Ruler in Jos North should be integrated into the Jos North Traditional Council and also into the Jos B/Ladi Joint Traditional Council.
Hausa: Need to strengthen the Hausa traditional institutions in Jos, Bukuru, Barikin Ladi and Bassa among others.
Hausa: Create three additional districts be created in Jos North LGA for communities including the Hausa.
Fulani: The position of the Fulani Ardos must also be recognised since they are part of the five king makers responsible for electing/selecting a Dagwom at district level.
Anaguta: Call for withdrawal of claims from Hausa/Fulani on traditional institutions
Page 16, 24. Demarcation of boundaries, Anaguta: The government has failed to demark the boundary of Anaguta Chiefdom. Hausa and Fulani illegally occupy and expand into Anaguta land. Proper boundary demarcation between Jos North, Jos South and Bassa LGAs is necessary.
Hausa: Identify the boundaries of the Hausa settlements in the former Jos Division through proper demarcation.
25. Resettlement of displaced people, Berom: Return to their homes, settlements, and for the return of annexed lands to their owners.
Afizere: Have been displaced from their traditional settlements in Rikkos and parts of Jos Jarawa. They ask the government to support people to rehabilitate their damaged living spaces.
Fulani: Berom people should support the Fulani community in urging the Federal and State Government to resettle all internally displaced herdsmen from Plateau State. Where not possible, the Fulani people should be compensated. Particularly concerned are villages in Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State.
Hausa: Resettlement of displaced communities back to where they were before crisis.
Page 17, 26. Compromise on electoral wards., Berom: The creation of federal electoral subdivisions especially in Jos North LGA is favours Hausa and Fulani, to the disadvantage of the densely populated non-Hausa Fulani areas. This must be readdressed in the interest of population size, land area, fair play and justice.
Anaguta: The 1991 additional creation of electoral wards was skewed in favour of the Hausa and Fulani.
Page 18, 26. Compromise on electoral wards., ... Hausa: Stoppage of manipulation of laws by the State Government as a means of disenfranchising its people. Size of the voting population should determine the number of electoral wards which are insufficient presently. Election rigging needs to be stopped.
Page 18, 27. Coherence of State and Federal law, Anaguta: Jos cannot be treated in isolation from other parts of the Country, particularly the North. There should not be two sets of rules and practices for Jos and the rest of the North.
Page 18, 28. Solve the issue of the ownership of Jos, ... Fulani: The issue of ownership of Jos has been in the forefront in causing most crises, mainly between the Hausa and the Berom. They believe that claims of exclusive communal ownership of Jos by the Berom do not hold. Fulani content that no law in Nigeria recognizes ownership of a whole town by a tribal group. Berom need to rethink their claims on Jos North LGA and other LGAs for peace to be achieved.
Page 19, 29. Solve the issue of indigeneship and benefits - Cattle rustling/banditry
- Page 10, 15. Cattle rustling, Berom: The Fulani rustled dwarf (muturu) and other cattle of the Berom.
Page 10, 15. Cattle rustling, ... Fulani: Increase in cattle rustling of the Berom from the Fulani. Vwang-vom district is used to hide these cows and the area has become a no-go-area. The Berom people should take steps to return all cows – or monetary compensation for them - stolen or taken away from the Fulani. Places were cattle are rustled into include Fan in Barakin LGA and Gyel in Jos-south LGA. - Social cover
No specific mention.
Declaration of Intent and Signatures
We the Chairmen of the five Steering Committees of the Afizere, Anaguta, Berom, Fulani and Hausa communities, endorse on behalf of our
communities, the roadmap and agenda for discussion during the Inter-communal Dialogue meetings, which will start on or about the 12th August
2013.
We hereby commit ourselves to work for Peace and enter into a dialogue process to find solutions to several issues on which our different communities
have expressed their concerns.
Signatures
Chairman of the Afizere Steering Committee Agwom Nyam Isha
Chairman of the Anaguta Steering Committee Aminu Agwom Zang
Chairman of the Berom Steering Committee Dr. Da Jonah Madugu
Chairman of the Fulani Steering Committee Alhaji Shehu Buba
Chairman of the Hausa Steering Committee Alhaji Umaru Sani