Again, Tiv and Jukun sign peace pact after 600 die in Taraba

Months after fighting, with 600 lives lost according to estimates from a civil society organisation, the Jukun and Tiv in the Southern part of Taraba state, Thursday agreed to a ceasefire for peace to reign.

A similar peace pact was signed in 2002 and 2014, but they always seem to fall apart over time.

The West Africa Network for Peace Building, Nigeria (WANEP-Nigeria) in a statement on Thursday said thousands have been displaced in the crisis with structures either burnt down or vandalised.

Bridget Osakwe, WANEP national coordinator, said statistics show 41 people have been killed within three weeks in September.

“Beyond the spill-over effect of violence on neighbouring communities of Benue State, inter-communal trading activities, household food consumption and income have also been affected by the escalation of violence,” Osakwe said.

“Equally alarming is the impact of the conflict on agriculture and livestock activities, which happen to be the mainstay of the local economies of the conflicting LGAs. This threatens food security, as local farmers and herders fear reprisal attacks in their farming locations in Taraba and Benue States.”

She said the crisis has disrupted education with a number of schools.

“WANEP-Nigeria recommends that State Governments to increase the spaces for dialogue and mediation to include traditional/community leaders, faith-based institutions, women and youth groups and other relevant stakeholders from both ethnic groups to ensure inclusivity in the peace process,” she said.

“The State Governments should strengthen partnership with civil society organisations including WANEP to provide support in community dialogue and mediation in the affected States, while also creating a space for peace education, in collaboration with the media to foster peaceful coexistence and tolerance in the affected communities.”

The peace pact is contained in a communique issued at the end of a two day peace meeting held in Jalingo with representatives of both tribes, government officials and security chiefs in the state. 

The communique reads in part; “The speakers condemned the crisis and stressed the need for cessation of all forms of hostilities between the two communities to have way for the peace building effort being spearheaded by the state government.

“The meeting noted that the crisis has been hijacked by criminal elements from both the Jukun and Tiv communities and therefore the two communities should expose the criminal elements amongst them.

“We also resolved to stop reprisal attacks or revenge from both parties but report all from of security breaches to the security agencies for appropriate action. 

“The meeting also stressed the need for government to take deliberate steps to encourage the Internally Displaced Persons to return to their homes since adequate security operatives have been deployed to the affected communities to protect lives and property”.

Months after fighting, with 600 lives lost according to estimates from a civil society organisation, the Jukun and Tiv in the Southern part of Taraba state, Thursday agreed to a ceasefire for peace to reign.

A similar peace pact was signed in 2002 and 2014, but they always seem to fall apart over time.

The West Africa Network for Peace Building, Nigeria (WANEP-Nigeria) in a statement on Thursday said thousands have been displaced in the crisis with structures either burnt down or vandalised.

Bridget Osakwe, WANEP national coordinator, said statistics show 41 people have been killed within three weeks in September.

“Beyond the spill-over effect of violence on neighbouring communities of Benue State, inter-communal trading activities, household food consumption and income have also been affected by the escalation of violence,” Osakwe said.

“Equally alarming is the impact of the conflict on agriculture and livestock activities, which happen to be the mainstay of the local economies of the conflicting LGAs. This threatens food security, as local farmers and herders fear reprisal attacks in their farming locations in Taraba and Benue States.”

She said the crisis has disrupted education with a number of schools.

“WANEP-Nigeria recommends that State Governments to increase the spaces for dialogue and mediation to include traditional/community leaders, faith-based institutions, women and youth groups and other relevant stakeholders from both ethnic groups to ensure inclusivity in the peace process,” she said.

“The State Governments should strengthen partnership with civil society organisations including WANEP to provide support in community dialogue and mediation in the affected States, while also creating a space for peace education, in collaboration with the media to foster peaceful coexistence and tolerance in the affected communities.”

The peace pact is contained in a communique issued at the end of a two day peace meeting held in Jalingo with representatives of both tribes, government officials and security chiefs in the state. 

The communique reads in part; “The speakers condemned the crisis and stressed the need for cessation of all forms of hostilities between the two communities to have way for the peace building effort being spearheaded by the state government.

“The meeting noted that the crisis has been hijacked by criminal elements from both the Jukun and Tiv communities and therefore the two communities should expose the criminal elements amongst them.

“We also resolved to stop reprisal attacks or revenge from both parties but report all from of security breaches to the security agencies for appropriate action. 

“The meeting also stressed the need for government to take deliberate steps to encourage the Internally Displaced Persons to return to their homes since adequate security operatives have been deployed to the affected communities to protect lives and property”.