Conflict Resolution Mechanisms and Community Peace in Ezza North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State

Community conflicts in Ebonyi State have historically disrupted livelihoods, impeded development project implementation, and imposed significant human and institutional costs on local governance systems. This study examines the effectiveness of conflict resolution mechanisms in maintaining community peace in Ezza North Local Government Area, one of the historically conflict-prone LGAs in Ebonyi State. The study is anchored on Conflict Transformation Theory, which holds that durable peace requires addressing the structural and relational roots of conflict rather than merely managing its visible manifestations through suppression or negotiation. A survey research design was adopted. The study population comprised community leaders, LGA officials, representatives of state security agencies, and residents of Ezza North, from which 250 respondents were selected through purposive and systematic random sampling. Data were gathered using questionnaires and structured interviews, analysed through content analysis and regression. Findings reveal that traditional mediation mechanisms, including the involvement of community elders and clan heads, are significantly more trusted and effective than formal government-led processes. Land boundary disputes and youth unemployment were identified as primary conflict triggers. The study concludes that sustaining peace in Ezza North requires a hybrid resolution model that integrates customary and formal governance mechanisms. It is recommended that the LGA formalise a conflict early warning system and invest in youth empowerment programmes to address the structural drivers of communal tension.

Keywords: Conflict Resolution, Community Peace, Ezza North, Governance, Ebonyi State