Despite govt’s efforts, Tiv/Jukun crisis claims more lives, property
The level of destruction in the areas affected by the Tiv/Jukun crisis in Taraba State is beyond what Nigerians have been made to believe. A visit to Bali, Donga Wukari and Ibbi local government areas of the state showed that the situation is actually very worrisome.
From Gazabu village, located about 8 kilometers from Bali town, which is the headquarters of Bali Local Government Area, up to Suntai town, it was observed that all the Tiv villages on both sides of the road were completely razed down.
There were over 20 Tiv settlements, but none of them was spared, while their inhabitants fled.
A lot of destruction was also seen after Jatau town, down to Kungana, Maigoge, Zagah, up to Suntai area.
Some of the affected settlements also include Maihu, Sarkin Dutse, Igba, Galadima Juji1 and 2, Kwana and Tudun Ruwa.
Others are Yelwa, Yalwa Kutumbi, Gazabo Barkeji, Kudi etc. They were full of activities before the unfortunate crisis.
Daily Trust on Sunday observed that the worst hit was Annanum village, where more than 113 houses were destroyed and other property worth millions of naira carted away or also destroyed.
Remote parts of Bali and Donga local government areas, as well as parts of Wukari and Ibbi local government, areas were also affected.
Destruction was also seen along Wukari-Ibbi, Wukari-Kente, Wukari-Rafinkada-Donga and Donga-Annanum and Maraban Baissa roads, as well as Tsokundi and Sondi areas.
Schools and churches were also not spared during the crisis.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that, in an attempt to find solutions to the conflict, a series of peace meetings initiated by the Taraba State Government were held at different venues in Wukari and Jalingo (Taraba) Makurdi (Benue), Lafia (Nasarawa State), as well as Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Recently, it was reported that a peace accord was signed in Jalingo between the two warring factions and it was agreed that the use of militia men should be banned.
But few weeks after the accord, killings were recorded at different locations in the Tiv/Jukun areas of southern Taraba. Such killings include those of a cleric and his wife in a farm at Maraban Baissa, two Jukun people and six Fulani, in an ambush along the WukariRafinkada road.
Doowuses Ishor,Terkula Agush and Mtaernyi Ortamu were also killed on June 29, 2020, at Jalo Takaliya in Bali Local Government Area by suspected militia men.
Similarly, Tse Juku was burnt down by suspected militia. Four persons, including a 9-year-old child, were killed last week.
Findings by Daily Trust on Sunday also revealed that suspected militia attacked and killed farmers in their farms farm in different parts of Wukari Local Government Area.
Both ethnic groups blame each other for the crisis, which has claimed over 100 lives.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, the national president of Ichen Cultural and Development Association, Dr Samuel Bibinu, accused the Tiv of using militia men to attack his people. Ichen is a sub tribe of Jukun.
But the president of Tiv Cultural Association in Taraba State, Mr Goodman Dahida, alleged that the Jukun were violating the peace accord they signed recently.
He said the attacks by Jukun
As a result of the crisis, crops like maize, yam, groundnut, melon, beniseed, cassava and others were left to waste because farmers were displaced. If something is not quickly done to stop the crisis and bring peace to the affected areas, there will be food insecurity in the state, which is also capable of affecting the entire country