President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Taraba and Benue State Governors as well as other stakeholders to meet urgently to bring an end to the persistent violent clashes between Jukun and Tiv people.
The President’s directive followed the gruesome murder of Rev. Fr. David Tanko in Kpankufu Village, Wukari, Taraba on Thursday.
The President in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in Abuja on Friday, said the stakeholders included traditional rulers, specifically the Tor Tiv and the Aku Uka of Wukari, religious and community leaders in the two states.
According to the President, the murder of the Catholic Priest has brought to the fore the urgency of addressing “this embarrassing and persistent conflict.”
He described the frenzy of human destruction, violent attacks on people and property in the communities by the warring parties as “unacceptable,’’ warning that the Federal Government would not sit idly and watch the deep-seated antagonistic relationship between the Tiv and Jukun people fester.
“I have watched with trepidation and disbelief how hate and bigotry had inhabited the human soul, resulting in brothers killing brothers.
“On behalf of the Federal government and the entire people of the country, I offer my condolences to the Catholic community, the government and people of Taraba over the losses arising from recent incidents involving the warring communities.
“The persistent deaths and destruction and the seeming desire by the warring sides to push each other to extinction is embarrassing, and this is against the essence of our ethnic and religious diversity in the country.
“Progress is impossible where violence and destruction are allowed to dominate our daily lives,” the President said.
He further described the Tiv/Jukun violence as one of Nigeria’s most persistent and intractable security problems, but assured the affected communities that the Federal Government would not leave them to their fate or treat cases of communal violence with levity and indifference.
“The deployment of security men can only provide a temporary solution.
“The long term and lasting solution to this deep-seated antagonistic relationship between the warring factions depend on the willingness of those involved to listen to reason and give peace a chance.
“It is time for leaders of the ethnic groups to come together and draw up a roadmap for lasting peace.
“The impact of this persistent violence on the social and economic life of the people is incalculable,” the President said.
The president announced that a high level intervention from the federal level made up religious, community leaders and top security operatives was being put together by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to examine all issues fundamental to the conflicts in the hope of finding a permanent solution.
