Jukun/Tiv Crisis: A rejoinder to Major General John Enenche's Press Release

Our attention has been drawn to a press release by Gen. John Enenche of the Nigerian army defence headquarters (DHQ) Abuja.

In the press release by Gen. John Enenche which he claimed that the army drafted to maintain peace in Taraba State does not pose a threat to the Tiv in Taraba and particularly Wukari. He went further that the army has brought relative calm in the area.
We wish to say without fear and favour that Gen. Enenche does not have the required intelligence to deny our claim over the illegal involvement of the army in the crisis, he has not gotten the object report from the people on ground.

We urge the army and Gen. Enenche to setup an independent body to investigate the activities of Nigerian army deployed to keep peace in Taraba State rather than staying in Abuja in his comfort home to say that it is a fallacy to say the army are colluding with local Jukun militia.

1. The burning down of Tor Iorshager, Ikyaior, Gbor gbor Tec was organised by Maj. Sails of 93 battalion Takum.

2. There is no single Tiv settlement in Taraba State that the army are stationed there to protect our people, but all the Jukun settlements are highly protected by the army, is that the professionalism?

3. In the whole of Taraba State there are two Tiv towns that have military, these are: Amadu in Takum and Dan Anacha in Gassol local government in central Taraba.

4. In Wukari which is the centre of the Jukun and Tiv crisis in Taraba state, the army had their checkpoints in all the Jukun settlements, these include: Wukari, Kente, Sondi, Rafin kada, Arufu, Akwana, Tsokundi, Chonku, etc can Enenche tell Tarabans and Nigerians at least one Tiv village in Wukari that the army are stationed there to protect the residents, is that the professionalism?

5. All the Tiv settlements in Wukari LGA are empty, did the General care to know why?

6. Jootar (Ukum Benue State) was attacked on 15 July, 2019 by Jukun militias, from Wukari to Jootar is 12km, there are five checkpoints, from the border line to Jootar is 2km, on average you have 2km to a check point manned by Nigerian army, the Jukun militias used the road to attack Jootar with their Hilux and motorcycle and followed the same route to go back, can Gen. Enenche tell us what happened to the army during the time of the attack?

7. On 8 Apri, 2020, Jukun militias attacked Jootar again passing through the same five checkpoints for the second time, is that the professionalism? How can you prove to a responsible person that the army were neutral in their activities?

8. If Gen. John Enenche will insist that our accusations are false, it means he lacks the intellectual capability to head such a sensitive office of that magnitude. His way of collecting, analysing and evaluating information is still analog and primitive, and therefore will not be of help to the army, no wonder, boko haram are killing our army because we lack intelligence analysis and evaluation.

9. On the claim by Gen. Enenche that his men had achieved relative peace in Taraba State is also false, because the following Tiv towns and villages were attacked successfully in the presence of the army.

 On 6/4/2020 two Tiv people were attacked in their farms in Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA.
 Dan Anacha hospital shooting 17/3/20. One Tiv killed
 On 11/3/2020, Tse Utsea was attacked and four people were killed in Wukari LGA.

 On 17/3/2020 Tee Ikyum was attacked one person was killed in Donga LGA.

 On 6/2/20 Ibua village Ibi LGA of Taraba State was attacked where two people were killed.

 Tse Mdondo was attacked on 26 Feb, 2020 one person was killed in Wukari LGA.

 On 21 Feb. 2020 Tor Iorshagher was attacked where two people lost their lives in Wukari LGA.

 Clement Kosum was attacked in Wukari where he attended a peace meeting, he was rescued by police.

 On 13/2/20 two killed in Ikyaior iWukarin LGA when the people had returned to rebuild their homes. On the same day, two killed as Jukun militias block highway from Byepi.

 On 28/1/20 Daniel Mbaterem house was burnt down by jukun militia in Dan Anacha Gassol LGA.

 On 14/1/20 Tse Kyamgbaki was attacked one person was killed, On the same day, Jukun militias attacked Kasuan shanu three Tiv were killed all in Wukari LGA.

 On 13/1/20 Ukor was killed in his home when he return to rebuild his house in Zegeate, Wukari LGA

 On 12/1/20 Dan Anacha was attacked four people were killed in Gassol LGA.
 On 10 /1/20 Dan Anacha was attacked in Gassol LGA.

 On 29/12/19 Naguru was attacked Two Tiv were killed in Gassol LGA.

 On 21/12/19 seven Tiv were killed when their car had a flat tyre in Wukari yam market.

 On 16/12/19 Tse Karkighir was attacked, one injured in Wukari LGA.

 On 16/12/19 Richard Bawa was arrested after attacking Dan Anacha, eight houses were destroyed, but he was later released by the army afer receiving money from Darius Ishaku. 12/22/19.

 On 11/12/19 Agbu Dauda was arrested with his gag members on their way to attack Tiv in Dan Anacha, with two AK47 but was released by army.

 Tse Nembe near Vaase was attacked on 6/13/19 by Jukun in Wukari LGA.

 On 3/12/19 Aondoungwa was slaughtered in his farm by Jukun Kasuan shanu Wukari LGA.

 On 29/11/19 four Tiv travellers were killed by Jukun when they block highway in Byepi wukari.

 On 27-28/11/19 Dan Anacha was attacked by Jukun in Gassol LGA.

 On 26/11/19 Samuel Eremtsa house was destroyed by Jukun in Dan Anacha Gassol LGA.

 On 23/11/19, The fight started in Dan Anacha by Jukun Gassol LGA.

 Tiv women were attacked in Akwana in Wukari on 19/11/19.

 On 14/11/19 four Tiv passengers were killed in Gidan Idi by Jukun for blocking the highway Wukari LGA.

 On 13/11/19 Gbor Gbor was attacked one church was also destroyed in Wukari LGA.

 On 08/11/19 Tse Gboo village was attacked in Donga two were killed by Jukun. Militia.

 On 17/10/19 four killed by Jukun in Byepi by blocking the highway in Wukari LGA.

 On 10/10/19 Torkuma Atsongoaya was killed in Tor Musa vilkage in Wukari LG, his head and leg removed.

 On 28/9/19 Tse Akume was attacked by Jukun in Donga LGA.

 On 25/9/19 Leke in Ukum LGA was attacked by Jukun two were killed.

 On 21/9/19 nine Tiv slaughtered by Jukun between Jootar and wukari by blocking the highway in between army checkpoints.

 On 20/9/19 Tiv passenger slaughtered opp. Wukari LGA secretariat.

 On 12/9/19 Kator Benjamin mngutsen was rescued by army when Jukun block highway.

 On 11/9/19 Yongogba in Takum was attacked two were killed.

 On 4/9/19 Andrew Nenshi, former due process chairman’s village was destroyed by Jukun in Wukari LGA.

10. With all these, the army have succeeded in repelling only one attack, how come all these attacks were going on in the presence of the army with no single arrest, if Gen. Enenche is serious with his press release, we advice him to resign his position to give way for the right person to take over the intelligence of the army for better intelligence analysis.

Taraba State Tiv Youth Forum.

I'm sure they don't even remember what they are fighting over.