Three killed, houses burnt as Tivs, Jukuns clash again

Three persons have reportedly been killed in a clash between Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups in Taraba state.

Both groups share a common boundary in not Just Taraba but Benue state.

A resident said some persons were killed while several houses set ablaze in Dananacha town, Gassol local government area of Taraba on Wednesday.

He said some elders from both ethnic groups later reconciled the aggrieved youth but a fresh round of crisis broke out on Thursday.

One of the reasons for the violence is the change of the town’s name from Dananacha to Kwararafa, according to a community source.

Dananacha town has been reportedly divided into three; with some part being controlled by Jukun, while the two parts are controlled by the Tiv and Hausa-Fulani ethnic groups.

David Misal, spokesman of the Taraba police command, confirmed the latest violence but said the police had restored normalcy in the area.

In a bid to find solution to the lingering crisis between both groups, Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba, recently established the judicial commission of inquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the crisis between the Tivs and Jukuns.

But the Tivs withdrew from the commission, saying they were in doubt of the sincerity of the panel sitting in Jalingo, the state capital.

Over the years, the deaths caused by the crisis between both groups have been on the rise.

In September, the West Africa Network for Peace Building, Nigeria (WANEP-Nigeria) said at least 600 persons have been killed during the crisis between both groups.