WHAT NEXT THE TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION: THE CASE OF THE BUNKPURUGU FAMILY CONFLICT IN THE NORTHERN REGION

Abstract

The Jamong family and The Jafouk family crashed over the skin of Bunkpurugu which is currently under the rule of Jafouk family. 23 persons died and several houses burnt in Bunkprugu-Yunyoo in the Northern region. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample 10 opinion leaders and sub-chiefs in the Area. Many of the solutions to these conflicts often fail to adopt home-based indigenous method in resolving them since most of our conflicts have traditional underpinnings. This paper is an empirical study which uses the views of traditional actors to examine how indigenous mechanisms can be explored in resolving the family conflict in the area. The central objective is to use Traditional approaches in resolving the long-standing family chieftaincy conflict in Bunkpurugu. The study reveals that indigenous methods of conflict transformation in the Bunkpurugu Traditional Area can be effective in resolving the conflict through an integration of both Jamong and Jafouk families as well as the other families using indigenous approaches. Arbitration approach cannot help find a lasting solution to the problem at hand because the families are bonded by blood.