A property touched in the Tiv community
The Tiv cultural and social association in Taraba State has alleged that their Jukun neighbours have attached their community in Donga Local Government Area of the state.
Here is the full text of the press briefing by President General of the association on the allegation.
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE PRESIDENT GENERAL OF TIV CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ASSOCIATION TARABA STATE, CHIEF GOODMAN DAHIDA ON THE ATTACK ON ANANUM VILLAGE ON TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020.
It is with a sorrowful heart that I address you this afternoon. The event of the last five days as it regards the unfortunate happenings in Donga local government area call for serious concern.
As you may be aware, the Tiv people in Donga local government area came under heavy attack in Mararraba last Thursday where innocent people were murdered at Mararraba Market and the surrounding Tiv villages. The unfortunate incident started when Ichen youths attack and badly injured a Tiv man Mr. Mernyi Chivir on his farm. In safe defense, one of the attackers was killed and the Ichen militia went on rampage, killing about 31 Tiv people, while 21 are still missing.
The Caretaker Chairman of Donga local government council, Mr. Nashuka Ipeyen who has maintained a bias position since the outbreak of the crisis yesterday said he saw a helicopter landing at Ananum, all in a bid to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
It will interest you to know that Mr. Nashuka Ipeyen with the support of top politicians in Donga mobilized security and militia men to attack Ananum village in the early hours of today. As we speak the attack is still ongoing. The entire village has been reduced to rubbles and they are currently hunting our people who fled the attack and killing them like bush animals.
We have it from credible sources that the plot is to sack all the Tiv villages in Donga and Takum LGAs the same way they have done in Wukari local government.
The action of Mr. Ipeyen and the unnecessary delay by the Taraba State government in implementing the joint 30-man Jukun/Tiv peace committee harmonized report which was submitted since December 2019, speaks volume.
It is now obvious that the Taraba State government is not willing to solve the Jukun/Tiv crisis which the government has constantly maintained that it is the internal affairs of the state and the state has the capacity to solve.
We therefore, appeal to the federal government to as matter of urgency intervene to bring the lingering crisis to an end, else the Jukun are out to annihilate our people in Taraba state because the template to exterminate us is now clearer than ever before. The security agencies especially the army have compromised by colluding with the Jukun militia to kill, maim and destroy our communities.
I have been told by the villagers at Ananum that the Army led the attack that ransacked Ananum village this morning.
The state government which is not ready to solve the crisis has now embarked on a campaign of calumny against the Tiv people declaring some of our traditional rulers as terrorists. No serious government that cares for her citizens without bias or sentiment can take such a position in crisis management.
