RismadarVoice Media, December 11, 2025
Some stakeholders mainly of Tiv extraction converged at the Tiv Taraba IDP Town Hall meeting held Wednesday in Kyado, Benue state, where they disclosed that over 3,000 of the Tiv people have been killed since April 1st. 2019, with 300,000 displaced and over 1,000 villages destroyed in the southern part of Taraba State.
However, they called on Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas to fast track the safe return of displaced Tiv population, who are taking refuge in Benue state, back to their ancestral homes in Taraba.
Stakeholders at the meeting comprises Traditional rulers, Priest and pastors, community leaders amongst others, affirmed, expressed concern that about 283 Tiv villages in Wukari, 69 in Donga, 37 in Ibi and several others in Takum LGAs have remain abandoned, representing a displaced population of over 300,000 Tiv people since 2019.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by Chairman Planning Committee, Mr. Solomon Iornem, Rev. A. Y Waako, HRH. Zaki John Ikyo and others, the stakeholders decried the deplorable condition of IDPs taking refuge in Benue, and appealed to Governor Kefas to return them back to their ancestral homes in Taraba state.
It read in parts: Following extensive deliberations on the conditions and challenges faced by the Tiv people of Taraba State, particularly those displaced by the ongoing crisis, stakeholders at the Town Hall Meeting observed that, the Jukun/Tiv violent conflict, which began on April 1, 2019 is still on – as internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not returned to their ancestral homes.
Those who attempt to return home have continued to face renewed attacks and killings.
The crisis has resulted to significant loss of lives across southern Taraba. Over 3,000 of the Tiv population have been killed since April 1, 2019, 300,000 displaced, over 1,000 villages destroyed in the southern part of Taraba state.
The prolonged displacement has created severe humanitarian crises, characterized by high number of out-of-school children, lack of access to healthcare for children, women, and the elderly, increased vulnerability of youths to drug abuse, violence, crime, prostitution, widespread hunger, poverty, and starvation.
The ongoing herders attacks on the innocent farmers, especially, in Chanchaji ward of Takum has continued to cause further bloodshed, destruction of farmlands, worsening destitution among displaced Tiv communities.
“The proposed establishment of Military Forward Operating Base FOB, in Ikyaior and Jandekyula, lacks transparency, adequate consultation, and community engagement; creating misunderstanding and tension”.
According to the communique, the meeting unanimously resolved to appeal to the Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas to urgently facilitate the safe return of the Tiv IDPs to their ancestral homes.
It adds; “We reaffirm that Tiv and Jukun are brothers and sisters, united by history, intermarriage, shared values, hospitality, long tradition of peaceful coexistence. We therefore, pledge commitment to peace and reconciliation.
We call on the government to urgently constitute a Jukun/Tiv Ad-Hoc Peace and Reconciliation Committee, with equal and fair representation from both ethnicities to address grievances, restore trust and propose sustainable peace strategies.
“We appreciate Governor Kefas for his intervention in managing the Chanchaji crisis. However, we appeal for stronger measures, increased security deployment, and continued engagement, as attacks and killings persist”
We call for temporary suspension or review of the proposed FOBs in Ikyaior and Jandekyula, pending proper community consultations, sensitization, and consensus arrangements which aligns with peace-building and confidence restoration efforts.
Stakeholders at the Tiv Taraba IDPs Town Hall Meeting expressed concerns over the ongoing violence, displacement, and humanitarian suffering affecting Tiv communities across Taraba State.
We believe that justice, dialogue, truth, and mutual respect are essential pathways to lasting peace.
We call on the State and Federal Governments, Traditional rulers, Religious institutions, Community-based organizations, Development partners, Security Agencies and all peace-loving citizens to work collectively to restore peace, rebuild trust, and facilitate the safe return and reintegration of affected persons.
“We reaffirm our commitment to peaceful coexistence, responsibility, and nation building”.
