The House of Representatives at its plenary session on Tuesday 23rd April 2019 urged the security agencies, in particular the Army to increase its presence in the communities affected by the ongoing communal clashes between the Tiv and Jukuns, until peace is restored. The clashes were said to have simply emanated from a disagreement between two persons from the two ethnic groups.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi (APGA:Taraba) stated that recently, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State has become unstable because of communal clashes between members of the Tiv and Jukun tribes. He stated that several settlements have been affected and that in addition to the destruction of houses and infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and places of worships, several people have been killed in the “internecine feud” between the two ethic groups. He added that as at the last count, at least 10,000 people have fled their homes and as a result, have become internally displaced. Hon. Shiddi further stated that in some places the security agencies were overwhelmed, as such could not contain the killings and destruction of property.
Following the motion, the House resolved to urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Presidential Committee on North East to, as a matter of urgency, provide relief materials including, food, healthcare services and roofing materials to the victims and urge the Benue and Taraba State Governments to intensify peace efforts in the area.
