THE IMPACT OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON POST-CONFLICT PEACE BUILDING PROCESS IN PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

The concept of restorative justice is now being accepted as a concept of peace building. It involves remedying or repairing harm or crime committed by offenders against the victims through a collaborative system that is just to both parties. Post conflict peace building is a participatory process to bring the warring parties to round table in order to build a lasting peace within the community. This process is done in conjunction with the local people. The conflict has polarised the various communities on religious and ethnic line. However, after the conflict the government and the people have held several consultative meetings to find lasting solution to the conflict. Government did not impose dialogue rather it involved the local people to arrive at a solution. Using doctrinal approach, this paper looks at the matter from the perspective of participatory peace building which is a concept of restorative justice. The paper found that exclusion of certain group of people from participating in peacebuiling processes will not allow the people and community to proffer lasting solution to the conflict. Again, government cannot force people to come together except the people agreed to come together.