Conflict Sensitivity Key to Preventing Recurring Violence in Communities, Says Gen. Agwai

Lasting peace in Nigeria cannot be achieved by reacting only after violence erupts, the Chairman of the Middle Belt Brain Trust and Institute for Integrated Transitions, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, has said.
Speaking at a Conflict Sensitivity Workshop for the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council Secretaries in Lafia, Agwai said conflicts persist in many communities because responses often fail to address the underlying factors driving tensions.

“Why do conflicts in our communities continue to repeat themselves, even after interventions, peace meetings, and security deployments?” he asked.

“The answer is often simple. It is not because communities do not want peace; it is because many times we respond to conflict without fully understanding the context driving it.”
Agwai stressed that sustainable peace requires early identification of tensions, careful analysis of relationships, and responses that reduce division rather than deepen it.

He described conflict sensitivity as a proactive leadership approach that helps prevent violence by asking critical questions such as: What is happening? What tensions exist beneath the surface? Who is affected? And which actions could worsen the situation?
He identified traditional rulers as critical partners in this effort, noting that they remain the closest and most trusted institutions in communities.

“Long before government officials arrive, before security reports are written, and before crises make national headlines, traditional rulers already know where tensions are building,” Agwai said. “Whether it is farmer-herder tensions, youth unrest, boundary disputes, mining-related tensions, or political grievances, communities naturally turn to traditional rulers first.”

Agwai warned that conflict rarely begins suddenly, but is usually the final stage of years of exclusion, mistrust, poor communication, inequality, resource disputes, unemployment, weak justice systems, and political manipulation.

“If we only respond when violence breaks out, then we are already late.

The real opportunity lies in prevention,” he said.
Agwai said conflict sensitivity strengthens trust between communities and institutions, improves coordination among traditional rulers, government agencies, and peace actors, and ultimately protects lives and social cohesion.

“The cost of prevention is always lower than the cost of violence,” he noted.

Speaking at the workshop, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule endorsed conflict prevention as the most effective strategy for tackling rising insecurity linked to mining and political activities in the state.
Sule said involving traditional institutions was critical to addressing emerging threats.

“This conflict sensitivity workshop is apt, especially at a time like this,” Sule said. “As you know, every day Nasarawa State is discovering new mining activities

. This is also a time when political activities are heating up. So when you bring these two together, you are attracting insecurity.”

The governor said prevention was cheaper and more effective than responding after violence occurs.

“Once we are able to identify the causes of this insecurity and confront them before they even hit us, that is actually the least expensive way of solving the problem,” he said. “You will find Nasarawa State a partner in this approach because we believe it is the right approach.”

Sule commended the Middle Belt Brain Trust and the Institute for Integrated Transitions for organising the workshop, and acknowledged their role in maintaining peace in Toto Local Government Area by helping to resolve the long-standing Igbira/Bassa crisis.

He cited improved stability in Bassa as one of the legacy outcomes of their intervention.

He also praised the trust placed in the facilitators, saying trust was key to resolving conflicts.

“The moment those who are coming to solve a problem are trusted, then 50 per cent of the problem has been solved,” Sule said. “We thank you for being trusted by Nigeria and by the rest of the world, especially West Africa, for all the good work that you have done.”

The governor said Nasarawa State would continue to partner with the MBBT and IFIT, noting that the state had benefited from their interventions not only locally but also in Benue, Plateau, and Taraba states.

On his part, the Emir of Lafia, Justice Mohammed Sidi Bage (Rtd), commended the Middle Belt Brain Trust for its role in peacebuilding across Nasarawa State, saying the group’s expertise has been instrumental in resolving communal conflicts.

The Emir said traditional rulers in the state had interacted with the group multiple times and benefited from their knowledge.

“The traditional rulers of the state have interacted with this group multiple times and have learned a great deal from them,” he said.

“We express gratitude for the opportunity to continue learning from these resource persons who have sacrificed their time and talents.”

The Emir highlighted the presence of the Aguma Bassa, recalling the Middle Belt Brain Trust’s involvement in resolving the Igbira-Bassa conflict, which he said the group was still working to address.

He thanked the participants and organisers for their commitment to peace and offered prayers for the success of the workshop.

The workshop brought together traditional rulers and council secretaries to build capacity in early warning, conflict analysis, and preventive response by equipping traditional leaders with skills to detect early warning signs, strengthen dialogue, and ensure government responses are informed by local social and community dynamics.

Participants at the workshop are being trained on practical tools, including conflict analysis frameworks, stakeholder mapping, scenario building, and political economy analysis, to help identify risks early and respond effectively.