By Sar Terver
For years, Tiv communities in southern Taraba State have lived with fear, displacement and grief, caught in a protracted cycle of communal violence that shows little sign of abating.
From Ikyaior and Jandekyura in Wukari axis to Chanchanji in Takum Local Government Area, reports of killings, burnt homes and mass displacement have continued to trail the crisis, perpetually causing worries about the safety of thousands of residents.
The tension escalated further following remarks attributed to Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, in which he reportedly declared that he would not intervene in the killings of Tiv people because, according to him, the affected communities were “not cooperating” with his administration.
The comments, allegedly made during a Christmas gathering with his kinsmen in Wukari on December 25, 2025, have stirred anger and resentment among Tiv leaders, rights advocates and concerned citizens, who express fear that such statements could further inflame an already volatile situation.
A long-running crisis
The Tiv-Jukun crisis in Taraba is neither new nor isolated. It started many decades ago over land ownership, indigene-settler classifications, political representation and traditional authority.
Tiv communities insist they are indigenous to several parts of southern Taraba, predating the creation of the state, while rival claims, often politicised, have continued to fuel mistrust and violence.
Over the years, entire Tiv settlements in areas such as Wukari, Ibi, Donga and Takum have been razed during bouts of violence, forcing residents to flee to neighbouring Benue State and other safer locations. Many displaced families remain unable to return home due to persistent insecurity.
Community leaders like Msugh Iorvenda say the consequences go beyond physical attacks. Farmlands have been abandoned, children withdrawn from school, livelihoods destroyed and food insecurity worsened, in a region where agriculture is the mainstay of survival.
Controversy over security measures
The controversy surrounding the proposed establishment of a Military Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ikyaior and Jandekyura has further heightened tension. Tiv residents in the affected areas reportedly opposed the move, claiming ancestral land ownership and lack of adequate consultation.
However, the governor was quoted as insisting that the military base would be established regardless of opposition, dismissing arguments based on ancestral claims. Critics say such remarks risk portraying the state as dismissive of legitimate community concerns, especially in a conflict-sensitive environment.
Beyond Ikyaior, fresh reports of attacks in Chanchanji community of Takum LGA have reinforced fears that violence is spreading rather than subsiding.
Alleged remarks stir backlash
Governor Kefas was quoted as saying he had received several messages from Tiv individuals appealing for intervention but insisted he would not act.
“If they like, they should keep writing and complaining, but I don’t care. I am the governor and I have the final say,” Musa Jankada quoted the governor on his Facebook page to have said.
While supporters argue that the comments may have been taken out of context, critics warn that public utterances suggesting non-intervention could embolden attackers and deepen ethnic resentment in a state with a fragile peace history.
Government silence raises questions
In the interest of balance and factual accuracy, this reporter contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Yusuf Sanda, and the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Barrister Zainab Usman Jalingo, seeking clarification on the governor’s reported remarks and the government’s response to the crisis.
Specific questions were sent on whether the alleged comments reflect official policy, the security and humanitarian actions taken in affected Tiv communities, the consultative process behind the proposed military base, and what steps the government is taking to de-escalate rising ethnic tension.
As of the time of filing this report, no response had been received, despite more than two days elapsing after the inquiries were sent.
Constitutional and moral concerns
A Legal analyst, Barr Ken Iordye, notes that the 1999 Constitution guarantees the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic or communal identity.
Tiv leaders argue that their communities are constitutionally recognised residents of Taraba State by virtue of historical presence and the state’s creation, making any perception of exclusion deeply troubling.
Civil society actors caution that unresolved grievances, when combined with perceived government indifference, could further destabilise southern Taraba and undermine ongoing peace efforts.
*A call for inclusive leadership
As fear and displacement persist, many residents say what they seek is not favour but fairness, protection and dialogue. They opine that sustainable peace requires more than military deployment, it demands inclusive consultation, acknowledgment of historical grievances, transparent security strategies and deliberate confidence-building among all ethnic groups.
For now, Tiv communities in Taraba continue to wait for safety, for justice, and for clear reassurance that the state government remains committed to protecting every citizen, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation.
Hmm.
Imagine that