The peace of Abinsi, an ancient town located on Makurdi-Gboko federal highway in Benue State, was disrupted penultimate Thursday after a deadly clash between the Tiv and the Jukun, the two major ethnic nationalities inhabiting the community.
Although there were no lives lost as the two ethnic nationalities went up in arms against each other, many houses were burnt while property and foodstuffs worth millions of naira were destroyed in the ancient town located on the bank of River Benue in Guma Local Government Area.
The Jukuns are predominantly fishermen while the Tivs are mainly farmers. The bloody ethnic clash had occurred barely 12 hours after Governor Samuel Ortom and his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Isiaka, attended the launch of a book at the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, whose content aims at promoting peace between the two ethnic nationalities.
As it would be expected, the occasion was attended by prominent Jukun and Tiv sons and daughters, who saw in the event an opportunity for a panacea to the age-long Tiv-Jukun crisis. Ironically, the two ethnic nationalities have lived together for ages as there are millions of indigenous Tiv people in Taraba State, just as there are millions of Jukun people living in Benue.
The Tiv in Taraba engage in massive farming activities, especially the cultivation of yams and cassava, and are found mostly in Taraba communities like Wukari, Ibi, Gidin Doruwa, Sedia, Dan Anacha, Sabongida, Tella, Mutum Biu and Feli Ruwa, all in Wukari and Bai local government areas.
Tiv people are also found in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and are appointed into political offices in the Taraba State Government, just as the Jukun also occupy high positions in the Benue State Civil Service and the Tiv Traditional Council. Long-dated rivalry
However, years of mingling together have not stopped the two ethnic groups from taking up arms against each other from time to time, leading, in many cases, to loss of lives.
The two ethnic nationalities had previously engaged each other in a bloody clash in a town called Fiidi where many houses were set ablaze. Even the palace and vehicles of the traditional ruler of the town were completely razed, causing many residents to flee the area. Although the crisis occurred in the heart of Benue, the people at the receiving end were Tiv people whose houses were burnt to ashes.
During the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there was a bloody crisis between Tiv and Jukun in Taraba State, leading to the alleged killing of some soldiers sent to keep the peace by some Tiv militia, although the Tiv on their part alleged that the soldiers were fighting on the side of the Jukun.
The incident led to the deployment of soldiers who overran Zakibiam town, killing more than 200 people. Even the house of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Victor Malu, was pulled down by soldiers who also allegedly killed his 90-year-old uncle.
Since then, it has been one crisis after another between the two tribes, almost on an annual basis.
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The monster rears its head
Like others before it, the latest crisis in Abinsi began like a minor disagreement between suspected cult members.
According to a member of the community, Peter Ugbe, it was an incident that began like a cult clash between two young men that degenerated into another bloody ethnic clash between the Tiv and the Jukun.
He said that Tiv people were at the receiving end with their choice houses in the town completely razed. He also said their farm produce and crops were also set ablaze.
Abinsi had become a ghost town when our correspondent visited during the week, as it had been taken over by soldiers and mobile policemen. Many of the residents were seen leaving the town.
Some of the residents were seen moving their belongings in pick-up vans and buses. A 40- year-old Tiv farmer, Agande Tor, who had his three-bedroom flag set ablaze, said he did not feel safe in spite of the presence of security agents.
Tor said he had just returned from the farm when some Jukun youths stormed his house and set it ablaze.
“I and members of my family had to run for our lives first. We slept in the bush until policemen arrived,” he said.
The district Head of Abinsi, Chief Christopher Bake, told Governor Ortom, who had stopped over on his way to campaign, that the crisis started as a quarrel between two youths only to snowball into a bloody violence.
No one seemed to know the brains behind the massive destruction of property in the town when our correspondent visited. Those who spoke said the violence started at about 7 pm and lasted throughout the night.
Governor Ortom has since directed the traditional rulers in the community to fish out those who carried out the destruction of houses and property. He also directed the Commissioner of Police to fish out the people behind the incident and get them to face the law.
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