We Are Tired Of Fighting- Tiv, Jukun Leaders Declare

'Gov Ishaku Efforts In Restoring Peace To Southern Taraba Yielding Results'

At a mediation meeting between Benue and Taraba states, held at the Nasarawa State Government House, Lafia, leaders of both Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups both renewed readiness to end aged long crisis saying both groups are tired of fighting each other. on Monday.

 

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule while hosting the meeting also appealed to political leaders from Benue and Taraba States, to use their God-given positions, to bring lasting peace across the two states.

 

The Governor, in his opening remarks, expressed concern that while the world is battling to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, innocent people in the two states are being killed and maimed, with their properties destroyed.

 

He told participants at the meeting to find lasting solutions to the lingering communal clashes that have bedeviled the two neighboring states, stressing that they will write their names in gold, if after the meeting, peace finally return to the troubled communities in the two states.

 

He called on participants at the meeting to be honest with each other, shun sentiments and to tell each other the truth, in order to find lasting solutions to the lingering crisis between Tivs and Jukuns. 

Participants at the meeting lamented that both ethnic group are losing daily from the crisis since inception. "We have been suffering from this crisis, we have lost our people, our properties and many other valuables to this crisis, it's time we stop it. We must put an end to it, our people are dying," a participant at the meeting said. 

 

Top government officials of Benue and Taraba have signed a peace accord in Nasarawa State to end the recurring violent clashes between the Tivs and Jukuns. This was contained in a communique issued and signed by Engineer Haruna Manu and Engineer Benson Abounu, deputy governors of Taraba and Benue states in the presence of Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, on Tuesday at the end of the joint peace meeting.

 

According to the communique, "There should be a cessation of hostilities from all parties to pave way for the return of displaced persons;

"The Governors of the two States should meet with traditional rulers in the frontline communities and sensitize them on the need to live in peace. "The sensitization should include effective communication by use of mass media. Ensure the return of the displaced people to their various homes.

"All the displaced persons in Taraba state should be allowed to return to their homes as soon as possible under the supervision of security personnel in view of the up-coming raining season. "That Benue and Taraba state Governments should identify and apprehend militia groups suspected to be residing in the two states and hand them over to security agencies for necessary action; "That even though the Benue state Government did not initiate the land litigation in Chonku but in the interest of peace the Deputy Governor of Benue state should play a mediatory role by talking to the litigator and the two Deputy Governors should further meet and resolve the matter. "That the Federal Government should ensure the demarcation of the boundary of the two states and facilitate the implementation of all the resolutions jointly arrived at by the two states' governments to permanently resolve the crisis; "And palliative measures should be provided to the displaced persons by the two States."

'Gov Ishaku Efforts In Restoring Peace To Southern Taraba Yielding Results'

Residents believes Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku is working tirelessly to end the crisis between the Tiv and Jukun, noting that many of his efforts are beginning to yield positive results.

They blamed some people they called merchants of war for the

Jerry Agbu said "The governor has done well in resolving this crisis, many of his efforts both privately and publicly are yielding results, the area has been relatively peaceful but some people just want the crisis to continue and they are instigating it to discredit the governor's efforts."

 

Another resident Felix Tordoo on his part said the governor took some political decision that has been largely applauded by our people, it was smoothing to healing many wounds, but some people, very few selfish are causing problem in the area, and we want the security agencies to dig into this and arrest anyone or group found instigating crisis in Southern Taraba, the peace structure build by the Governor should not be destroyed for political or personal gains.   

Media Aide to the Taraba governor, Governor Ishaku's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Bala Dan Abu said the

 meeting in Lafia, is one in the series of efforts of Governor Ishaku to broker peace between the Jukun and Tiv, stressing that "it's the height of ignorance and mischief for anyone to suggest that Gov Ishaku has not done enough to restore peace in Southern Taraba.

 

He noted that Gov Ishaku has done a lot to promote peace in Southern Taraba. He has visited the crisis areas at the Taraba/Benue borders more than SEVEN times since becoming governor during which he and his Benue State counterpart met and held meetings with leaders of the Tiv/Jukun communities on the need for peace.

The Deputy Governor of Taraba State also visited those areas many times at the instance of the governor and held similar meetings with Benue stakeholders led by the Deputy Governor of that state on the same subject.

In September last year, a stakeholders meeting organized by Gov Ishaku was held at the YarAdua Centre, Abuja with senior Federal Government officials including Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National and State Assembly members from the two states in attendance. Key traditional rulers from Taraba and Benue states were also in attendance.

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom also commended the Governor over the steps he had taken to end the crisis between the Jukun and the Tiv in that state.

 

It should be further noted that when Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku came to power in 2015, as a leader concerned with protecting the lives of people of the State generally, he immediately swung into action by embarking on peace meetings with his Benue State counterpart and various communities in Southern Taraba, aimed at finding lasting solutions to these crises and to establish sustainable peace in the State.

These efforts include:

i. Taraba and Benue Joint Security Peace meeting held on Friday 3rd February, 2017 at the Kashimbilla Dam Site, Taraba State.

ii. Benue and Taraba States Boundary/Security Peace meeting held on Tuesday 5th September, 2017 at Ugba Youth Centre, Logo Local Government, Benue State.

iii. A Tripartite meeting of officials on Benue and Taraba Interstate Boundary held at Banquet Hall, Benue Peoples' House, Makurdi, Benue State, 5th October, 2017.

iv. Benue/Taraba Inter-state Boundary Joint Field Technical Report, 12th December, 2017.

v. Joint Security meeting between Benue and Taraba States at Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Saturday, 29th December, 2018.

 

Despite these efforts by Governor Ishaku, some characters who do not wish the State well seem happy to see the State in perpetual turmoil. This is why they continue to embark on this campaign of calumny and falsehood against the Governor saying he did not do much to sustain peace in Taraba State.