Luka Agbu Foundation Recommend Inter-tribal Marriage, Peace Education, Others to End Tiv/Jukun Crisis

In a bid to finding lasting solution to the tribal crisis between Tiv and Jukun tribe in Taraba State, essayists have recommended inter-tribal marriage, peace education and improved security architecture among others to tame the menace.

The forty-two essayists make the submission in a Tiv/Jukun essay competition organized by the Luka Agbu Memorial Foundation (LAMF).
LAMF Executive Director Mathias Luka Agbu in an Executive Summary said the competition tagged “Finding lasting solution to the endless Jukun /Tiv crisis” drawn the forty-two essayists, mainly youths, from the both sides of the warring factions to solicit for sustainable solutions to the reoccurring Jukun/Tiv crisis through essay writing.
The essayists surmised that conflict between Jukun and Tiv has a long history and traced back to the early 1950s, with subsequent recurrence in the intervening years of: 1959, 1964, 1976, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000, and 2001.
They argued that the conflict is widespread across the southern part of Taraba State, with the hot theaters being bordered communities that linked Benue and Taraba States: Wukari and Zaki Biam.
The essayists called for total commitment among stakeholders to end the protracted crisis between the two tribes. They listed the important stakeholders to include: states actors— the federal, states and local government — and the non-state actors at the individual and family units and traditional and religious institutions.
They recommended improved security, addressing the indigene question and creating economic opportunities for the state actors.
Others recommendations for state actors include: “Immediate intensification of border security between Wukari and neighboring Benue State through joint interstate security patrol teams to avert future conflict and to check the activities of criminals benefiting from the spoils of war.
“Traditional and social media platforms should be utilized by the states and local government authorities for peace-building campaigns and for fast and accurate dissemination of information that builds confidence and abhor hate.
“Constitutional review should be undertaken immediately to address indigenes/settlers’ rifts which is one of the issues at the heart of the conflicts.
“All Lands whose ownership and leasing have been implicated in the conflict should be taken over by the Federal government. Military barrack, tertiary institution, federal hospital or any other institutions that the federal government deem fit should be established in such places.
“The unemployment crisis in the region should be addressed by all levels of government as a matter of urgency.”
Furthermore, the essayists urged the non-state actors (traditional and religious institutions) to lead the way in promoting shared values and activities arguing that that both traditional and religion institution can be a great a unifier across the divides.
The recommendations include: “Annual Jukun/Tiv inter-cultural festival should be initiated. The festival should also serve as an avenue for recognizing and awarding persons who have made outstanding contributions to promoting development and peace between the two ethnic groups and those who have done their ethnic groups proud in different fields. This act would encourage a sense of patriotism, love, peace and respect among Jukuns and Tivs.
“Peace education that includes traditional peaceful resolutions and conflict management should be included in the educational curriculum at both secondary and tertiary institutions.
“ Provision of basic amenities —like education, healthcare, water supply, improved means of livelihood etc — that improve the quality of life should be promoted in the affected communities jointly by the government, private individuals and key stakeholders. This can be done through the rebuilding of those facilities destroyed during the crisis and also, the development of new ones. This will give people a sense of belonging and an empowerment which will avert reoccurrence of violent conflicts.
“Periodically, government should facilitate dialogue with youth leaders, community leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders in the area on issues that affect them, seek their opinion and suggestions where necessary. This will give everyone a sense of belonging and foster the spirit of brotherliness among warring groups. The leaders of the Tiv and Jukun communities should also meet periodically to discuss issues that affect their development and also see areas they could come together to curb crime, conflicts and other negative developments in their immediate localities.
“District heads, chiefs, and their associates who are involved in selling a piece of land to two or more persons, etc or leasing same piece of land to different people because of greed should be made to desist from such or face the consequences of the law.”
Continuing, the essayists posit that individual and family unit can also strengthen connector and weakens divisors through these recommendations:
“Inter-marriage should be promoted by Leaders of both ethnic groups. Marriage as a social union binds people together and enhances cohesion. A Jukun man should be encouraged and allowed to marry a Tiv woman and vice versa.
“Tolerance, sincerity, service to humanity, and respect for constituted authority (government) should be encouraged among the Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups from the family unit through to public spaces like cinemas, etc.”
The full summary here,

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE JUKUN/TIV ESSAY COMPETITION ORGANIZED BY THE LUKA AGBU MEMORIAL FOUNDATION.

PREAMBLE
The Luka Agbu Memorial Foundation (LAMF) was established —about a decade ago —with the overarching vision of transforming orphans to leaders and empowering youth to be community builders. At the heart of the foundation’s mission is expanding access to education amongst orphans and the less privileged and improving quality of education in schools in deprived communities through the award of scholarships and the provision of basic and modern educational facilities. But over the years of promoting education and empowering young people, it was obvious that the recurring conflict and the rising intolerance in our community can reverse all these gains particularly with the youth as front liners in the conflict. The youth are deeply involved in the conflicts and at the same time suffer the most consequences. To this regard, the Luka Agbu Memorial Foundation (LAMF) reshuffled to the top of its priority peacebuilding and conflict transformation with focus on the youth. The goal is to rewrite the narrative that negatively exploit the energy and enthusiasm of youth in feeding the conflict to harnessing their huge potential and exuberance towards finding lasting solutions. It is in this light that LAMF piloted the first ever essay contest, targeted at youth from the both sides of the warring factions, soliciting for sustainable solutions to the reoccurring Jukun/Tiv crisis. The contest was tagged “Finding lasting solution to the endless Jukun /Tiv crisis”.
A total of 42 essays were received. This write-up summarizes all the different novel and implementable recommendations contained therein. The purpose is to make them easy to read and to trigger conversation and proactive action towards lasting solutions by all and sundry. In addition, the complete unedited essay can be download from the link below:

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It is also interesting to highlight here that following calls, comments and solicitation from different quarters, LAMF is considering instituting the essay contest as a yearly event that will serve as a platform for dialogue and finding practical solution to topical issues in our community and possibly scaling to the National stage.
Finally, all views and citations made in all the essays are those of the authors’, and does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of LAMF.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The conflict between Jukun and Tiv has a long history; traced back to the early 1950s, with subsequent recurrence in the intervening years: 1959, 1964, 1976, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000, and 2001. The conflict is widespread across the southern part of Taraba State, with the hot theaters been bordered communities that linked Benue and Taraba States: Wukari and Zaki Biam. While it is true that the authorities concerned have made continuous efforts to resolving the conflicts, the tools, approaches and measures employed are yet to yield the desired permanent solution that usher in peaceful coexistence between the warring parties since the first confrontations about 70 years ago. Even as you read this piece, there is an ongoing tension between this two groups; leading to loss of lives and the destruction of properties.
The recommendations from the 42 essays towards lasting peace is presented under stakeholders’ heading. The recommendation requires actions from states actors— The federal, states and local government — and the non-state actors at the individual and family units and traditional and religious institutions.

(a) STATES ACTORS’ INTERVENTIONS.

Improving security, addressing the indigene question and creating economic opportunities top the list of recommendations for the state actors (Federal, states and local) as items below;
1) Immediate intensification of border security between Wukari and neighbouring Benue State through joint interstate security patrol teams to avert future conflict and to check the activities of criminals benefiting from the spoils of war.
2) Traditional and social media platforms should be utilized by the states and local government authorities for peacebuilding campaigns and for fast and accurate dissemination of information that builds confidence and abhor hate.
3) Constitutional review should be undertaken immediately to address indigenes/settlers’ rifts which is one of the issues at the heart of the conflicts.
4) All Lands whose ownership and leasing have been implicated in the conflict should be taken over by the Federal government. Military barrack, tertiary institution, federal hospital or any other institutions that the federal government deem fit should be established in such places.
5) The unemployment crisis in the region should be addressed by all levels of government as a matter of urgency.

(b) NON-STATE ACTORS (TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS)

With both sides having respect for the traditional institution and religion been a unifier across the divides, these institutions are urged to lead the way in promoting shared values and activities.
1. Annual Jukun/Tiv inter-cultural festival should be initiated. The festival should also serve as an avenue for recognizing and awarding persons who have made outstanding contributions to promoting development and peace between the two ethnic groups and those who have done their ethnic groups proud in different fields. This act would encourage a sense of patriotism, love, peace and respect among Jukuns and Tivs.
2. Peace education that includes traditional peaceful resolutions and conflict management should be included in the educational curriculum at both secondary and tertiary institutions.
3. Provision of basic amenities —like education, healthcare, water supply, improved means of livelihood etc — that improve the quality of life should be promoted in the affected communities jointly by the government, private individuals and key stakeholders. This can be done through the rebuilding of those facilities destroyed during the crisis and also, the development of new ones. This will give people a sense of belonging and an empowerment which will avert reoccurrence of violent conflicts.
4. Periodically, government should facilitate dialogue with youth leaders, community leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders in the area on issues that affect them, seek their opinion and suggestions where necessary. This will give everyone a sense of belonging and foster the spirit of brotherliness among warring groups. The leaders of the Tiv and Jukun communities should also meet periodically to discuss issues that affect their development and also see areas they could come together to curb crime, conflicts and other negative developments in their immediate localities.
5. District heads, chiefs, and their associates who are involved in selling a piece of land to two or more persons, etc or leasing same piece of land to different people because of greed should be made to desist from such or face the consequences of the law.

(c ) INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY INTERVENTIONS

As individual and at the family unit we can also strengthen connector and weakens divisors through these recommendations:
1. Inter-marriage should be promoted by Leaders of both ethnic groups. Marriage as a social union binds people together and enhance cohesion. A Jukun man should be encourage and allowed to marry a Tiv woman and vice versa.
2. Tolerance, sincerity, service to humanity, and respect for constituted authority (government) should be encourage among the Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups from the family unit through to public spaces like cinemas, etc
As itemize herein, we all have part to play towards finding lasting solutions to the endless Jukun and Tiv crisis. This recommendations in themselves might not be a sliver bullet but they could be conversation triggers and pointers towards arriving at lasting solutions.

Mathias Luka Agbu
Executive Director
LAMF, 2019