For years, the boundary dispute between the Mangun and Chafem Chiefdoms in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, has remained a persistent source of tension, straining relationships between the two communities (Mangun and Chafem) and limiting socioeconomic opportunities between them.
Although the dispute is currently before the courts, the absence of dialogue while communities wait for the legal determination has allowed mistrust to deepen, making peaceful coexistence increasingly difficult. Community leaders on both sides recognised that restoring relationships could not wait for a court judgement.
To help communities move beyond entrenched positions, Search for Common Ground, with support from Spirit of America, brought together representatives from Mangun, Bungha and Derkong communities for a three-day Community Conflict Management Training.
Using Search for Common Ground’s Common Ground Approach, participants worked through practical exercises on conflict analysis, stakeholder mapping, influence mapping and identifying shared interests. Rather than discussing hypothetical scenarios, they applied these tools to the real-life Mangun–Chafem boundary dispute, examining the underlying drivers of the conflict and exploring practical ways to rebuild trust while respecting the ongoing legal process.
The exercise marked an important shift in perspective. Instead of viewing reconciliation as something that could only begin after the court delivered its judgement, participants recognised that dialogue and confidence-building could start immediately. They identified practical opportunities for communication and collaboration that would allow relationships between both chiefdoms to improve, regardless of the legal outcome.
The discussions concluded with a shared commitment to pursue a phased confidence-building process. Participants agreed to begin with dialogue within their respective communities before facilitating broader engagement between representatives of both chiefdoms.
Reflecting on the experience, a representative of the Department of State Services (DSS) described how the training had transformed his approach to conflict management: “We know a lot has happened in the past, but we are here today, and we have gained new knowledge and practical skills. For me, this is the first time I have used stakeholder analysis and influence mapping in this way. Rather than dwelling on the past, let’s use these new skills to open conversations between both chiefdoms and build collaboration.”
Although the boundary legal dispute remains unresolved, the training achieved an important peacebuilding outcome at the community level by shifting conversations from historical grievances towards practical collaboration. Community stakeholders demonstrated increased ownership of the peace process and a willingness to further create opportunities for dialogue alongside the ongoing legal proceedings.
By equipping local leaders and institutions with practical conflict management skills and creating a safe space for collaborative problem-solving, Search for Common Ground has laid the groundwork for a community-led reconciliation process that complements formal dispute resolution mechanisms. This proactive engagement is vital, as it fosters local ownership and sustainable stability, directly contributing to the broader goal of building lasting resilience against conflict in North Central Nigeria.
