THE ROLE OF ZAUREN SULHU COMMUNITY FORUM AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISM IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Aminu Abdullahi Dauda , Hindatu Yerima Maigari and Naziru Mohammed Musalli, PhD
Volume 13 Issue 2
Abstract
This study examines the role of Zauren Sulhu Community Forum as an indigenous conflict resolution mechanism in Bauchi Metropolis, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Despite the proliferation of formal legal institutions, traditional community-based conflict resolution forums remain pivotal in managing interpersonal and communal disputes in Northern Nigeria. Employing a qualitative case study design within an interpretivist paradigm, this research utilized semi-structured interviews with nine key informants selected through purposive sampling across five administrative wards in Bauchi Metropolis. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that Zauren Sulhu Community Forum performs three critical functions: societal orientation through value inculcation and behavioral modification; youth counseling and rehabilitation through moral guidance and restorative justice approaches; and grievance settlement through culturally-grounded mediation processes. The study identified two major challenges undermining forum effectiveness: lack of parental cooperation and financial constraints. The research contributes to the discourse on alternative dispute resolution by demonstrating how indigenous mechanisms complement formal justice systems in managing community-level conflicts. The study recommends government financial support, community awareness campaigns, and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen these traditional institutions. Keywords: Zauren Sulhu, Conflict Resolution, Community Forum, Indigenous Mechanisms, Bauchi State, Alternative Dispute Resolution
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