08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Conflict over land rights continued among members of the Tiv, Kwalla, Jukun, and Azara ethnic groups ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17446]

"Conflict over land rights and ownership continued among members of the Tiv, Kwalla, Jukun, and Azara ethnic groups; each of these groups resided at or near the convergence of Nassarawa, Benue, and Taraba States. The Tiv, who were claimed by their opponents to have migrated to the country later than other inhabitants of the disputed area, were regarded as interlopers by the other groups, which consider themselves "indigenous". Tivs are the largest ethnic group in much of Benue and parts of other states."

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04.2002 - Source: Human Rights Watch

The conflict in Taraba between Tivs and Jukuns has tended to center around competition for land, as well as control over economic resources and political power ("Military revenge in Benue: A population under attack") [#6317],  [ID 15009]

"The conflict in the Taraba-Benue area, which has been going on for decades, is principally between the Tivs, on the one hand, and the Jukuns, on the other; in recent years, the Jukuns have formed a close alliance with the Fulanis. The Jukuns form the majority in Taraba, while the Tivs form the majority in Benue. There are also sizeable Tiv minorities in Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states, and a small Jukun minority in Benue. The conflict in Taraba between Tivs and Jukuns has tended to center around competition for land, as well as control over economic resources and political power. Political battles have been especially intense around the control of Wukari, the traditional Jukun center in Taraba State. There have been disputes over the siting of the boundary between Benue and Taraba states, respect (or disrespect) for boundary demarcations, and political control of the border towns and villages. In broad terms, the Jukuns claim to be the original inhabitants of Taraba State, or "indigenes," and consider the Tivs as settlers. The Tivs reject this view, on the basis that they too have been living there for several generations and therefore have equal rights; they complain of being marginalized and excluded in Taraba. Likewise, the Jukun minority in Benue also complain of marginalization, lack of employment opportunities, and insecurity. There has been periodic fighting between these groups since the late 1950s, with sporadic outbreaks in 1964, 1976, and again in 1990-1992. Over the years, the communities have found increasing difficulty in living together peaceably. Benue is often referred to as the Tiv state, and Taraba as that of the Jukuns. Political polarisation has gradually turned into physical segregation too: as violence has intensified in Taraba, an increasing number of Tivs have fled into Benue. Tivs have complained of persecution in Taraba and talk of a deliberate campaign of "ethnic cleansing," primarily by the Jukuns, allied with the Fulanis, and now additionally backed up by the military. They have claimed that these operations are deliberately timed to ensure that the Jukuns have the political advantage in Taraba in the run-up to elections scheduled in 2003. In addition, the rivalries between Tivs and Jukuns have always had the potential to escalate into an even more serious conflict at the national level, as both groups are well represented in the national army. The violence in Taraba intensified in the second half of 2001. Organized bands of Tivs, Jukuns, and Fulanis were responsible for scores of deaths of civilians and widespread destruction of homes during this period, with attacks taking place on a weekly, and sometimes a daily basis. From the first week of September 2001 onwards, in particular, there was a series of attacks and counter-attacks by Tiv and Jukun armed groups, including on border towns and villages. These continued into December 2001 and January 2002."

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28.11.2001 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

The conflict between the Tiv and the Jukun, two different ethnic groups coexisting in Taraba State in Nigeria, had numerous causes (""Profile of internal displacement: Nigeria"") [#4825],  [ID 15010]

"The conflict between the Tiv and the Jukun, two different ethnic groups coexisting in Taraba State in Nigeria, had numerous causes. These included disputes over land, traditional rulership, political authority, fears of domination and marginalisation. While this conflict centered [sic!] around the issue of settlers and indigenes, which is common in many parts of Nigeria."

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27.11.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Dozens of people killed and thousands forced to flee their homes when fresh outbreak of ethnic fighting between Tiv and Jukun erupted in Taraba State ("Nigeria: Renewed ethnic clashes erupt in central region") [#4814],  [ID 15011]

"Several hundreds of people have been killed since the longstanding dispute between Tivs and their Jukun neighbours over land ownership, flared up in violence in September. Troops sent in by President Olusegun Obasanjo into the area to quell the violence became mired in the conflict after 19 of their men were killed by a Tiv militia. Reprisal attacks mounted by soldiers in October against several Tiv villages resulted in the death of more than 200 people and the displacement of tens of thousands of others. Residents of the affected area have continued to report military activity in their districts against unarmed villagers, with more people being killed, injured or forced to flee their homes."

Document(s): Open document

27.11.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Dozens of people killed and thousands forced to flee their homes when fresh outbreak of ethnic fighting between Tiv and Jukun erupted in Taraba State ("Nigeria: Renewed ethnic clashes erupt in central region") [#4814],  [ID 15012]

"A fresh outbreak of ethnic fighting has erupted in Nigeria’s central region Taraba State, with dozens of people killed and thousands forced to flee their homes, local officials told IRIN on Monday. More than 100 armed men, suspected to be part of an ethnic Tiv militia, attacked several settlements of their neighbours, the Jukuns, in the Donga area, near the border with Benue State on Saturday, burning houses and killing several people, John Adamu, an official of the Taraba State government said."

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26.11.2001 - Source: BBC News

50 people killed when militia from the Tiv community attacked settlements of the Jukun people near the town of Donga ("Land clash in central Nigeria") [#4798],  [ID 15013]

"Reports are emerging from central Nigeria of a clash between two local communities which has left up to 50 people dead. A spokesman for the Taraba state government said militia from the Tiv community attacked settlements of the Jukun people near the town of Donga over the weekend. Details of the attacks remain sketchy, but tensions over land rights in the remote region have led to frequent clashes in recent months. The spokesman said Tiv youths crossed the border from Benue state - effectively the boundary between the two warring communities - and attacked Jukun settlements. There are also reports of hundreds of people fleeing the area."

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07.11.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

At least 550,000 people displaced after ethnic clashes between members of the Tiv and Jukun communities ("Nigeria: Over half a million displaced in central region, official says") [#4543],  [ID 15014]

"Since September, fresh waves of displaced people fleeing fighting between members of the Tiv and Jukun communities in areas along the border between Benue and Taraba have taken refuge in several camps around the Benue capital, Makurdi. There they joined people displaced by earlier clashes between Tivs and Hausa-speaking Azeris in nearby Nasarawa State. However, officials said, the largest contingent of displaced people are those who have been flooding the refugee camps since soldiers attacked and ransacked several Tiv communities in late October in apparent retaliation for the killing of 19 of their colleagues by a Tiv militia earlier in the month."

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29.10.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Conflicts involving Tivs, who are mainly farmers, and Jukun, who are mainly from pastoral or fishing communities, are mostly over land ownership ("Up to 300,000 displaced in central region") [#4469],  [ID 15015]

"Large numbers of displaced people are staying in several camps around the Benue State capital, Makurdi, where they joined others who had fled an earlier fighting in June between Tivs and Hausa-speaking Azeris in nearby Nasarawa State. Tivs are the majority ethnic group in Benue State but have significant populations in other central region states, including Taraba, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Plateau. The conflicts involving the Tivs, who are mainly farmers, and their neighbours who are mainly from pastoral and fishing communities, are mostly over land ownership. There are widespread fears that prolonged conflict in the region, which is one of Nigeria's food producing areas, is likely to undermine the country's food security."

Document(s): Open document

06.07.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

20 people killed and more than 25000 forced from their homes when bands of Fulanis and Jukuns attacked their Tiv neighbours in the Donga local government area ("Nigeria: Clashes spread in central Nigeria") [#2406],  [ID 15016]

"Communal clashes involving ethnic groups in the central Nigerian state of Nasarawa have spread to neighbouring Taraba State claiming several lives, news organisations reported on Friday. A report by the mainly government-owned 'Daily Times', cited by the Reuters news agency, said at least 20 people were killed and more than 25,000 forced from their homes when bands of Fulanis and Jukuns attacked their Tiv neighbours in the Donga local government area. Fighting broke out in Nasarawa between Tivs and their Hausa-speaking neighbours on 12 June after a leading Hausa traditional ruler was killed by unknown gunmen suspected by his people of being Tivs. More than 200 people have been reported killed and over 35,000 Tivs have fled to nearby Benue State where they form the majority."

Document(s): 01333nig.htm
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