Jukuns condemn southern Taraba killings, urge FG to intervene
The Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN) has condemned the shooting of two farmers, Mr. Danasabe Firiji and Mr. Inusa Audu both of Donga Local Government Area of Taraba state in the early hours of Saturday while on their way to their farms.
JDAN President, Chief Bako Benjamin, who stated this in statement, called on the federal government to quickly intervene, adding that the entire roads and farms in southern Taraba, particularly in Donga Local Government Area have been taken over by militias with guns who are now moving in their hundreds freely on motorbikes.
Benjamin said the state government has completely failed to provide and make adequate arrangement for security for the people of southern Taraba, adding that the entire population who are subsistence farmers can no longer access their farmlands or sleep peacefully due to the activities of militia groups.
The JDAN national president said no single day passes without Jukun people being shot and killed in their farms or on the highway.
“The call on the federal government has become necessary because the Jukun people may have no choice but to soon get their people together to form groups to defend their own homeland,” Benjamin said.
He said there is no way peace meetings can achieve success because the state government prefers to hand pick and choose politicians to attend the meetings instead of focusing on the main gladiators in the various villages to address the matter.
Southern Taraba has been plunged into inter-ethnic crisis between Tivs and Jukuns for over a year now, leading to the killing of hundreds and displacement of several of thousands people.
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Several peace meetings have been held in Wukari, Abuja and Lafiya, the Nassarawa state capital, but there seems to be no end in sight to the crisis.
JDAN had recently issued a vote of no confidence on the Governor Darius Ishaku over his poor handling of the crisis and his refusal to visit southern Taraba in spite of the unprecedented carnage and loss of lives in the zone.
The association also wondered why the state governor has refused to name a new monarch for Donga chosen by the kingmakers several months after the demise of the former king which would have restored stability in the ancient town.
It was gathered that douthern Taraba roads, especially Donga/Mararaba Road, Takum Wukari Road, Wukari /Katsina Ala Road, Takum /Katsina-Ala Road and the Tsukundi/Wukari/Donga Road are not safe for Jukun people and travelers due to the alleged activities of the Tiv militia.
