Traditional Pathways to Peace

This book examines traditional approaches to conflict resolution in Northern Nigeria, tracing their development from the pre-colonial period through to the present day. Drawing on a wide range of case studies, it highlights how indigenous systems, rooted in local customs, religious values, and communal authority, have historically played a key role in maintaining peace across diverse communities.

Chapters explore topics such as the farmer-herder conflict, the influence of Islamic scholarship, the legacy of colonial legal systems, and the continuing relevance of traditional rulers and justice mechanisms. The volume combines historical analysis with contemporary examples and argues for the reintegration of indigenous practices into modern peacebuilding efforts.

This book will be of interest to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working in conflict resolution, African studies, governance, and legal reform. It also offers important insights for those seeking locally grounded responses to insecurity in Nigeria and beyond.

Joseph Olusegun Adebayo, PhD, is a peace and media studies scholar affiliated with Liverpool John Moores University (via UNICAF). A National Research Foundation–rated academic (South Africa) and Kistefos Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, he has published extensively on peace journalism, African governance, and indigenous conflict resolution, including books and numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters.

Abubakar Mohammed, PhD is a seasoned and erudite administrator and currently holds the position of Secretary, Executive Council Secretariat, Government House, Zamfara State, Nigeria. His broad area of research interest includes Peacebuilding, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Conflicts, and Administrative Reforms. He specifically focused on Security and Strategic Studies as a major area of research interest. Similarly, he has attended numerous conferences and workshops and published in different Journals.