Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has called for the return of seized land, compensation for victims and punishment for wrongdoing as part of efforts to end recurring communal conflicts in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
He said reconciliation would remain difficult if victims of violence and dispossession were denied justice, warning that unresolved grievances could undermine attempts to rebuild trust among divided communities.
Osinbajo spoke on Monday at a conference organised by the Justice Research Institute in partnership with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.
He urged governments, religious leaders, political elites and civil society organisations to work together to address the causes of conflict and promote peaceful coexistence across ethnic and religious divides.
The former vice-president said communities could rebuild relationships after prolonged violence, but stressed that reconciliation must be deliberate and backed by political commitment.
He cited South Africa and Rwanda as examples of countries that had pursued reconciliation after periods of severe violence, arguing that sustained efforts were necessary to restore social cohesion.
Osinbajo also called for urgent improvements in the administration of justice, insisting that people whose land had been taken from them should have it returned, with compensation provided where necessary.
He said accountability for wrongdoing was essential to ensuring that reconciliation efforts were credible and that victims did not feel abandoned.
The conference, themed Countering Polarisation and Rebuilding Civic Cohesion in North-Central Nigeria: Beyond Tribe and Faith—Reclaiming Our Shared Stories, brought together stakeholders to discuss ways to address ethnic and religious divisions.
The Director-General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, urged participants to approach the discussions without prejudice and develop practical recommendations for peaceful coexistence.
The Emir of Lafia and conference chairman, Sidi Bage, also called for solutions that would address the root causes of conflict and promote justice.
The Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Khalid Aliyu, meanwhile, highlighted the role of religious leaders in rebuilding trust, warning that misleading messages from some clerics could deepen divisions.
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