The President General, Tiv Cultural and Social Association in Taraba state, Chief Goodman Dahida on Saturday expressed sadness over the renewed attacks and looting in Wukari despite the peace efforts by the Taraba and Benue state governments.
Dahida made this known in a media briefing in Jalingo.
Blueprint reported that an expanded meeting of the deputy governors of Benue, Mr Benson Abounu and that of Taraba, Alhaji Haruna Manu as well as traditional rulers of the two states at the Federal University Wukari held on Monday April, 15 2019.
He explained that at the end of the meeting, an eight point communique was issued calling for a complete halt of hostilities on both sides.
According to him, other than heed to the resolution of the meeting which had in attendance the Tor Tiv Prof James Ayatse and the Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr Shekarau Angyu, some Jukun youths continued unprovoked attacks on Tiv villages.
He maintained that immediately after the peace meeting on Monday, some youth allegedly attacked Vaase, a border village on Tuesday April 16 and on Wednesday April 17 ,Tse- Ali Kaakigh was attacked, the attackers took their provocation on Ikyaior, Gborgbor and Gidin Mangoro villages on Thursday April 18 and Friday 19, burning and looting people’s property at Ikyaor village.
Dahida said during the attack on Ikyaior village, All Saint Catholic Pastoral Area was not spared by the aggressors as they looted valuable property in the parish not minding it was a church and in the Holy Week of Easter.
He lamented that the plea by the Parish Priest Rev Fr Livinus Orji to the attackers fell on deaf ears.
He said: “We condemn these attacks both from the Jukun and the Tiv in the area and we wish to once again reiterate our earlier position that we are not at war with the Jukuns and those fanning the embers of war should desist from such act forthwith.
“As we speak, a good number of Tiv people are still living and cohabiting well with the Jukuns.
“Some Jukun traditional rulers in some part of Wukari have stopped their youths from attacking Tiv villages.
“What is happening in some parts of Wukari is purely an act of criminality and those benefiting from the looting don’t want to see an end to the unfortunate situation,” he said.
