Taraba varsity, peace bureau convene parley on rising violence

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As insecurity continues to dominate national discourse, Taraba State University, Jalingo, in collaboration with the State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, has announced plans to host a maiden National Conference on Violent Conflicts and Peacebuilding.

Speaking at a press briefing to usher in the event, scheduled for December 8-11, 2025, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Buhari Miapyen, said the conference aims to deepen understanding of violent conflict dynamics in the state and strengthen peace-building efforts that have recorded significant gains in recent months, noting that the conference comes at a “critical moment” for Taraba and the country at large.

Miapyen noted that Taraba, known for its ethnic diversity and rich cultural heritage, had for years battled communal clashes, criminal attacks, and other forms of insecurity that strained intergroup relations and stifled development.

However, he noted that the past 20 months have witnessed “remarkable and reassuring” improvements in the security landscape, attributing the progress to the leadership style and security reforms of Governor Agbu Kefas.

According to him, the Kefas administration’s emphasis on community engagement, cooperation with security agencies, conflict-management strategies, and youth empowerment has “fostered renewed hope and unity” across the state.

“Communities once burdened by tension are recovering, displaced persons are returning, and citizens now go about their activities with greater confidence. This transformation marks a turning point worth consolidating,” Miapyen pointed out.

The four-day national conference is expected to attract academics, civil society groups, security practitioners, traditional rulers, religious leaders, policymakers, development partners, and students from across Nigeria and beyond.

Its objectives, the organisers stressed, include generating evidence-based research on the causes and patterns of violent conflict in Taraba, promoting local peace-building initiatives, offering policy recommendations to the government, and enhancing collaboration among peace-focused organisations.

Arewa PUNCH gathered that the conference themes will cover a broad range of topics, including climate-induced conflict, farmer-herder relations, governance and security reforms, gender and youth participation in peacebuilding, cross-border instability, displacement and humanitarian challenges, and the role of the media.

Miapyen described the conference as a bridge between research and policy action, adding that sustaining peace in Taraba requires inclusive and informed decision-making.

Thus, he urged the media to support the initiative by promoting narratives that build trust and discourage misinformation capable of igniting tensions.

“We must spotlight Taraba not as a theatre of conflict but as a model of peace and resilience in the Northeast,” he said.

The organisers also expressed appreciation to the Taraba State Government, security agencies, traditional institutions, NGOs, and universities for their support in making the conference possible, adding that peacebuilding is a continuous process and the upcoming conference represents a major step in consolidating the security gains recorded under the current administration.

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