Kaduna's Peacebuilding Efforts Help Prevent Violent Disputes

When two young people started arguing during a community event in Kaduna, Mistura Hussain did not rush to pick a side. The 18-year-old Kaduna State University student listened to both of them, allowing them to share their side of the story while trying to keep the argument from turning personal.

In the end, the argument stopped without escalating into a fight.

For Ms Hussain, this was a real test of what she learned in a peacebuilding training organized by the Muslim Peace Network (MPN). She learned that a disagreement doesn’t have to turn into a conflict, and a conflict doesn’t have to lead to violence.

“Before, we would argue over simple conversations, and it could become personal,” she said.

While this kind of intervention may seem small, in Kaduna State, where issues like land, political interests, resources, identity, and religion often lead to violence, peacebuilding groups believe that how people handle ordinary disagreements can prevent bigger problems.

For decades, Nigeria has faced communal, ethnic, and religious conflicts that have caused deaths, displaced families, and created distrust between communities. A report by the International Crisis Group pointed out political manipulation, poverty, unemployment, and ethnic and religious rivalries as key factors fueling conflicts in northern Nigeria. Kaduna has also seen recurring religious violence linked to political, land, and historical tensions, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The level of violence remains troubling. Between January 2024 and August 2025, the European Union Agency for Asylum reported 475 security incidents in Kaduna, leading to 951 deaths. These included violence against civilians, battles, riots, and explosions.

Some of the worst conflicts in Kaduna show how a specific disagreement can take on broader ethnic or religious meanings. For instance, in 1992, a dispute over moving a market in Zangon-Kataf led to violent clashes between Hausa and Atyap communities. Political scientist Rotimi T. Suberu documented this crisis. His findings showed that 95 people were killed, 252 were injured, while many homes and farmlands were destroyed. The violence later spread to other parts of Kaduna State.

What started as a market dispute didn’t stay just that.

Human Rights Watch later noted that the 1992 crisis began with disagreements over the market before the fighting took on a wider ethnic and religious context.

This lesson is still relevant today: disagreements can become dangerous when viewed through existing community divisions, rumors, and mistrust.

This concern is real in places like Kakuri in Kaduna South Local Government Area, known for its religious and other tensions that could spark violence.

But Kakuri is not just about conflict.

Hussain Makanjuola, Executive Director of MPN, mentioned that Muslim and Christian youths in Kakuri have been playing football together to strengthen their relationships.

Mr Makanjuola explained that these relationships faced tests after the murder of Deborah Samuel, a Christian student who was beaten and burned to death by her classmates at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State on May 12, 2022. She had criticized classmates for posting Islamic messages in a WhatsApp group meant for school.

After her death, anger grew among some Christian youths in Kakuri, leading to retaliation against Muslim youths, resulting in three deaths before security stepped in.

This incident illustrated how a misunderstanding can deepen existing tensions and threaten relationships within the community, Mr Makanjuola noted. It showed the importance of peacebuilding efforts that build trust and communication before a crisis occurs.

In another case, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria) reported a Community-Based Reconciliation Committee in Kakuri that resolved a family feud after it became serious enough to involve security forces. The families reconciled through mediation.

These experiences highlight what community peacebuilding aims to achieve: helping people recognize tensions, open dialogue, and resolve disagreements before they escalate into larger issues.

Building Relationships Before Conflict

In this context, MPN has worked for several years with young people, religious leaders, women, and community leaders in Kaduna.

Founded in 2020 in Kaduna, the organization promotes peace education, interfaith dialogue, community mediation, and grassroots engagement. Its aim is to help residents, students, and leaders address disagreements before they escalate into violence.

Activities include the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP), Peace Clubs in schools, and a network of Community Peace Officers in six local government areas.

MPN’s work goes beyond simply telling people to “live in peace.” It focuses on building trust and empowering people to tackle problems before they turn into bigger issues.

During workshops, participants learn about conflict prevention, tolerance, communication, and peaceful problem-solving. They practice listening to opposing views, expressing concerns without blame, and collaborating with people from different backgrounds.

Some sessions include group exercises where participants encounter disagreements and are expected to resolve them through discussion instead of confrontation. This allows them to practice the skills they might need when real disagreements arise.

From 2021 to 2025, MPN reported that its Peace Education program reached over 3,700 students in seven private schools in Kaduna, where it set up Peace Clubs. The organization also reached about 10 communities through its Community Initiatives to Promote Peace program.

Peace Clubs give students a space to discuss differences, learn communication and conflict-resolution skills, and meet students from different backgrounds.

Instead of just learning about religious tolerance as a concept, students practice listening, communicating, and working with people of different faiths.

MPN has also engaged religious teachers and community leaders.

In January 2023, the organization trained Arabic and Islamic teachers in Kaduna on peacebuilding and preventing religious extremism in schools.

Mr Makanjuola stated that MPN conducted 12 training workshops between 2021 and 2025 on various peacebuilding areas, including engaging religious and community leaders, women, and youth, training over 600 participants in total.

The Community Peace Officers work across Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Kagarko, Zaria, and Igabi local government areas. They act as community contacts who identify tensions, promote dialogue, and connect disputing parties with those who can help resolve issues.

The idea is straightforward: intervene while a disagreement is still small.

From Lessons to Everyday Relationships

The changes MPN seeks to bring are not just about resolving disputes when they happen. They also aim to make interactions easier before a crisis occurs.

Maryam Ahmed, a 17-year-old Muslim student at Malika International School, shared that peace education activities changed how she interacted with students from other religious backgrounds.

Her experience highlights another side of peacebuilding: reducing the distance that can exist between young people because of religious differences. Instead of approaching students from another faith with assumptions, the activities allowed her to interact with them directly and build friendships through shared experiences.

Other participants noted they became more comfortable communicating with people of different faiths and backgrounds.

Monica Ishaya, a 26-year-old Christian student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the MPN training shifted her view of people from other religions, allowing her to see them as friends, not just as people defined by their faith.

“I became more confident interacting with people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds,” she said.

Mariya Ahmed Tijjani, an MPN official who first joined the organization’s activities as a participant before becoming a staff member, said dialogue challenged her views about people from other faiths.

She learned that people could disagree on religion yet still maintain friendships and work together.

The approach also involves religious and community leaders to help clear misunderstandings, promote dialogue, and use their influence to prevent disagreements from escalating into larger disputes.

Misbahudeen Muhammad Raji, an Imam with the Nasirudeen Society of Kaduna State who took part in MPN activities, mentioned how religious misunderstandings and ignorance could create tension.

He recalled a situation where two motorcycle riders from different faiths exchanged harsh words. Rather than letting it become a religious issue, he brought them together, encouraged them to listen, and helped settle the argument.

In Chikun, Anna Yakub, a Christian women’s leader, also described an incident where a disagreement among community members began to spark religious tension. Community members intervened, brought those involved together, and opened a dialogue before things escalated.

These examples show how lessons from peacebuilding can extend beyond training sessions into daily disputes in communities.

John Akor, a senior pastor of God’s Love Auditorium Church in Kaduna and facilitator of some MPN programs, emphasized that religious leaders can play a significant role due to their influence.

Their involvement ensures that peacebuilding is not limited to workshops. Participants can apply the lessons in schools, religious spaces, families, and neighborhoods.

This approach aligns with the broader experience of peacebuilding organizations in northern Nigeria. A USAID evaluation of an interfaith peacebuilding program found that training, dialogue, and joint activities created chances for Muslims and Christians to interact and improve their perceptions of each other.

Recently, the United Nations reported that an Early Warning and Early Response system in Kaduna and Katsina recorded 126 cases since its launch in August 2023, with 53 cases resolved within three months. This system relies on local collaboration to identify and respond to tensions before they escalate into larger conflicts. The UN also stated that this mechanism has strengthened communities’ and local government peace committees’ ability to detect potential conflicts early.

AbdulPatai Adekunle Badmus, an official of the Interfaith Mediation Centre who attended some MPN workshops, shared how such interventions can change behavior.

He recalled a young participant from one of the Peace Clubs who initially had little interaction with Muslim students but later became comfortable and formed friendships with them.

These changes are significant because peacebuilding involves not only addressing violence but also improving how people relate before crises arise.

Mr Badmus noted that the effects of this work can become more visible over time as participants carry the relationships and attitudes they develop into their schools, homes, and communities.

Samson Auta, a conflict resolution expert and co-executive director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, explained that community peacebuilding can enhance people's ability to identify tensions, communicate across differences, and seek mediation before disputes turn violent.

He noted that conflicts are often influenced by various factors, making it essential for communities to have individuals who can recognize tensions and respond quickly.

Mr Auta said MPN’s activities showed how conflicts could be reduced at the community level. However, achieving lasting results requires a long-term commitment rather than short-term fixes.

Similarly, Obi Onyeigwe, an independent peacebuilding expert, stated that effective programs can build relationships that last beyond a single workshop, especially when communities take charge of resolving their own issues.

Beyond the Work, Resources Remain a Challenge

While MPN has expanded its peacebuilding activities in schools and communities, limited resources have made it hard to reach everyone who could benefit.

The organization has continued some efforts with limited funds, relying on partnerships and the commitment of community members and volunteers.

This challenge became clear when the Kaduna State Ministry of Education approached MPN about extending its Peace Clubs to public schools across the state. They wanted to take the peace education model beyond the seven private schools where MPN has set up clubs.

But MPN could not expand to all public schools due to a lack of resources.

So far, the organization has established Peace Clubs in seven private schools and reached over 3,700 students through its Peace Education program. Expanding this model to many public schools would need more funding, staff, and ongoing support.

The same limitation affects its work with Community Peace Officers and community leaders, restricting how far the organization can extend its activities that depend on regular local engagement.

Community peacebuilding cannot replace security operations or tackle all the economic and political reasons behind violence.

But for those in these programs, recognizing tension, listening to different views, and stepping in before a disagreement escalates provides another layer of safety.

For Mistura Hussain, this lesson is now part of how she handles disagreements. What used to seem like a confrontation can now be a chance to listen.

And in communities where a small quarrel can take on a much larger meaning, that change can start with something simple: learning that disagreement doesn’t have to end in violence.