Adakole Daniel: An Accountant-turned-Peace Mediator in Benue State

By Sharon Emmanuel

Adakole Inalegwu Daniel, a young Accounting graduate, could have chosen the safety of staying away from trouble-ridden communities affected by armed attacks in Benue State. Instead, he has spent years risking his life to promote peace among rural dwellers.

Daniel has also invested his personal resources and livelihood in efforts to prevent violence, protect vulnerable communities and restore peace across rural Benue, rather than run from danger.

He has repeatedly walked into troubled communities to mediate disputes, gather early-warning information and mobilise residents against violence.

My love for rural communities runs deep because of my compassion for humanity in need.

His quiet interventions have helped avert crises, save lives and rebuild hope in communities scarred by years of insecurity, making him one of Benue’s unsung peacebuilders.

In an interview with our correspondent, the humanitarian, farmer and youth leader said his commitment to rural communities is driven by compassion for vulnerable people.

“I am a community person, a grassroots mobiliser, and my love for rural communities runs deep because of my compassion for humanity in need. I have always enjoyed speaking for the voiceless and vulnerable people in rural communities. I believe it is part of my destiny to help people, especially the vulnerable and forgotten class of people in our society.”

Away from the spotlight, the young peace advocate has dedicated his personal time, energy and resources to helping fragile communities remain peaceful, often at considerable personal and financial cost.

Daniel, who serves as President of the Idoma National Youth Forum and Benue State Youth Chairman of the Peace and Dialogue Committee of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), said his passion for humanitarian service stems from his concern for vulnerable people whose voices are rarely heard.

Over the years, he has built relationships with traditional rulers, youth leaders, security agencies and other community stakeholders. These networks have enabled him to intervene in several disputes before they escalated into widespread violence.

Adakole Daniel

One of Daniel’s most memorable interventions, he said, occurred in Ohimini Local Government Area after a Fulani youth was shot on a farm near Anwule community.

According to Daniel, the late Benue State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Muhammad, alerted him to the incident.

Daniel said he immediately contacted the Divisional Police Officer in Idekpa and engaged the Chief of Anwule, community elders, youth leaders and Fulani representatives to establish what had happened.

He recalled joining the police and community leaders to visit the scene, after which they held a series of peace meetings.

The engagements eventually produced an amicable resolution and helped prevent a possible reprisal attack.

Daniel’s peacebuilding efforts extend beyond crisis mediation.

He has trained communities in Otukpo, Okpokwu, Gwer West and Agatu Local Government Areas on Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) mechanisms, helping them establish local committees capable of identifying and reporting emerging security threats before they develop into violence.

I have committed virtually all my resources to this work.

He said communities including Umogidi, Igama, Agagbe and Odugbeho have benefited from the initiative, which has strengthened grassroots peacebuilding and community protection efforts.

Daniel also provides security information and early-warning reports to organisations including Truth Nigeria, Catholic News Agency, ECCVN, Sightsavers, AFRIPEACE and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

He said the information shared through these networks has assisted security and humanitarian actors in responding to and, in some cases, preventing emerging crises.

To sustain the network, Daniel said he personally provides airtime support to community contacts across Benue and neighbouring states, including Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Bauchi.

For him, ensuring that critical information reaches the appropriate authorities on time is more important than personal comfort.

I have suffered from armed attacks directly and indirectly. I do not wish such experiences on anyone.

Despite his commitment, Daniel said the work has come at a high personal cost.

“I have committed virtually all my resources to this work. My barbing business has suffered greatly because of my humanitarian activities. Since the death of Emmanuel Igomu and Prof. Armstrong Adejo, who supported and encouraged this movement, I have received little or no support,” he lamented.

Yet, he remains undeterred.

Having experienced the consequences of violent attacks firsthand, Daniel said he understands the devastating impact insecurity can have on families, livelihoods and entire communities.

“I have suffered from armed attacks directly and indirectly. I do not wish such experiences on anyone. I am passionate about peace, farming and community development. As a youth leader and peace ambassador, I see it as my duty to contribute to the safety of our communities,” he said.

For many rural residents, Daniel may not wear a uniform or occupy a government office. But through quiet mediation, community mobilisation and early-warning initiatives, he has sought to prevent violence and strengthen fragile communities.

His story reflects the often-overlooked role played by local peacebuilders who operate far from the spotlight, sometimes placing their own safety and resources at risk to prevent conflicts from escalating.

In communities where fear and violence have repeatedly threatened livelihoods and relationships, Daniel has chosen a different path: to walk towards danger when others are forced to run from it, in the hope that peace can still prevail.

Read Also:Jacob Choji Pwakim: Apostle of Dialogue and Peace in Plateau State