CAUSES OF THE YELWA SHENDAM PLATEAU STATE CRISIS IN 2002 AND 2004

This study investigates the underlying causes of the 2002 and 2004 Yelwa-Shendam crisis of 2002 and 2004, a violent conflict between ethnic groups in Plateau State, Nigeria. The research identifies key factors contributing to the crisis, including and religious tensions, competition for land and resources, political manipulation and elite interests, historical grievances, and unresolved conflicts. The study primarily adopted the historical methodology, employing the use of primary and secondary sources, such as oral interviews, published literature, journals, and articles for data collection and reconstruction of history, through a qualitative analysis of historical records, this study examines the complex interplay of these causes, highlighting the role of contextual and structural drivers. The findings provide insights into the dynamics of the crisis and inform strategies for conflict prevention and resolution in the plateau state of Yelwa Shendam and Nigeria at large