Examining Trust as a Foundation for Peace Among Communities in Taraba State

This study examines the role of interpersonal and inter-group trust as a foundational element for sustainable peace among ethnically diverse communities in Taraba State, North East Nigeria. Taraba is home to over 80 ethnic groups, and while this diversity represents cultural richness, it also provides a complex landscape in which trust deficits between communities can rapidly escalate into violent conflict. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected through a validated trust scale administered to 200 community members across Jalingo, Ardo-Kola, and Karim-Lamido local government areas, complemented by focus group discussions with community youth, women, and elder groups. The theoretical framework draws from social capital theory, particularly Putnam's concept of bridging social capital, and the contact hypothesis. Findings indicate that inter-group trust levels are significantly higher in communities with shared economic activities, intermarriage traditions, and regular inter-ethnic social events, while communities with recent conflict histories and limited inter-group contact report the lowest trust scores. The study identifies traditional institutions, cooperative markets, and interfaith worship spaces as existing trust-building platforms that can be leveraged for sustainable peace promotion. Recommendations include developing state-sponsored inter-communal social cohesion programs in Taraba, supporting joint economic projects between historically conflicting groups, and using traditional institutions as anchors for structured trust-building dialogues. Keywords: trust, peacebuilding, social cohesion, Taraba State, inter-group relations.