The Nigerian military has called for sustained dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation among farmers, herders and youths to address recurring conflicts and strengthen peaceful coexistence in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The call was made by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, during the fourth edition of a stakeholders’ security seminar organised by the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at DM Bello Multipurpose Hall, Sanga.
The seminar, themed “Bridging the Divide: Uniting Farmers, Herders and Youth for a Prosperous Community,” brought together traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, women, youths and security agencies to discuss practical solutions to conflicts affecting livelihoods and community relations.
Speaking at the event, Major General Maxwell Dangana, stressed the need to address the underlying causes of conflict through dialogue, forgiveness and collective responsibility.
Dangana noted that farmers, herders and other community members must be able to pursue their legitimate economic activities without fear, intimidation or violence, particularly during the farming season.
He said the seminar provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify the root causes of conflict, exchange ideas and develop practical strategies to tackle criminality and promote mutual understanding.
According to him, previous editions of the initiative had contributed to reducing clashes and destruction of farmlands by approximately 70 per cent, based on available statistics.
The military chief, however, emphasised that sustaining the gains would require continuous engagement and stronger cooperation among community leaders, security agencies and residents.
He also advocated compassion, apologies, forgiveness and the willingness of offenders to acknowledge wrongdoing as important steps towards rebuilding trust and restoring damaged relationships.
Dangana urged traditional, religious and community leaders to organise regular meetings and encourage residents, particularly young people, to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
He maintained that security remained essential for agricultural productivity, economic growth and sustainable development.
The member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Daniel Amos, described the military’s peacebuilding initiative as a collaborative effort that was producing positive results in the area.
Amos said the longstanding tensions between farmers and herders required sustained intervention, noting that the journey towards lasting peace would take time because of the history of conflicts in the region.
He expressed optimism about the progress recorded in Sanga but acknowledged that more work was needed to achieve lasting stability.
The lawmaker urged traditional rulers to intensify engagement with their communities and promote peaceful coexistence, stressing that the conflicts should not be allowed to undermine relationships among residents of different backgrounds.
He also called for stronger collaboration between the military, government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders to consolidate existing peace efforts.
Similarly, the Chairman of Sanga Local Government Area, Hon. Yakubu Usman Anto, highlighted the need for government and community leaders to address youth restiveness through sustained engagement and employment opportunities.
He urged community leaders to maintain communication with young people while calling for increased government efforts to create jobs and tackle factors that could contribute to insecurity.
Resource persons at the seminar, Dr Daniel Amba and Sheikh Mohammed Kabir Kasim, Chief Imam of Kafanchan Central Mosque, highlighted issues contributing to conflict and called for stronger community cohesion.
Their presentations focused on the need for practical measures to bridge divisions among farmers, herders and youths while strengthening mutual understanding and peaceful relations.
The Commander of Sub-Sector 71, Sanga, Lieutenant Colonel M. Galadima, said recurring farmers-herders clashes remained a major concern requiring consistent dialogue, public sensitisation and efforts to change attitudes among affected groups.
He noted that insecurity could undermine agricultural productivity and broader economic development, particularly when farmers and herders were unable to carry out their activities peacefully.
Galadima said continued engagement was necessary to support a peaceful and productive 2026 harvest season, urging participants to share their experiences and work towards sustainable solutions.
Some community members, including Alexander Hassan and Francisca John Amba, also commended the initiative, saying it had contributed to gradual improvements in peace and stability in Sanga.
They called for the continuation of the engagement to sustain the progress recorded and prevent a resurgence of violence.
Military strengthens operational capacity
Earlier, Dangana commissioned restored operational vehicles and motorcycles at Sub-Sector 71, Sanga, to improve the mobility and operational capacity of troops within the joint operations area.
He also presented purchased motorcycles to leaders of the Fulani community to strengthen cooperation between residents and security personnel, particularly in information sharing and intelligence gathering.
The initiative forms part of Operation Enduring Peace’s non-kinetic approach, which complements military operations with dialogue, community engagement and other peacebuilding measures.
Dangana stressed that peace was invaluable and urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards preserving it.
The engagement underscored the importance of addressing the social and economic dimensions of farmer-herder tensions alongside security operations, particularly in communities where recurring conflicts threaten livelihoods, agricultural activities and relationships among residents.
