Tiv group urges Taraba, Benue governors to end trans-border killings

THE Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Taraba State on Friday called on the Governors of Taraba and Benue states to step up efforts towards ending killings and kidnappings on the fringes of Taraba, Benue border.

President General of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Taraba State, Chief Goodman Dahida disclosed this at a press briefing in Jalingo.

Dahida who was reacting to the recent attack on some Tiv communities of Abako and Sai in the neighbouring Benue State by Jukun youth in the early hours of Monday called on the Taraba State government to direct investigation into the attack.

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“We condemn the attack in strong terms and call on the government of Taraba State to conduct a deep investigation into the attack with a view to unravelling the motive behind the evil act.

“While we are not absorbing Tiv youth in the criminal activities going on in that axis, we reject and condemn the stereotyping of the Tiv people by tagging us as criminals and associating us with all criminal activities going on in the state especially in the Southern zone.

“For a fact, there is a syndicate of kidnappers whose members cut across Kuteb,  Tiv,  Jukun,  Igbo and Yoruba. The testimony by the member representing Wukari II in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Josiah Aji, during the valedictory session in honour of Late Barr. Hosea Ibi is a pointer to this fact.

“The issue of insecurity in the area involves the two states and we call on the two Governors of Taraba and Benue to find common ground in solving this problem,” he said.

Dahida called on Tiv people living in the area and beyond not to embark on any form of reprisal but allow security agencies to do their work in the interest of peace and development.

Our correspondent reports that youth from Wukari local government area in the early hours of Monday attacked the border communities of Abako and Sai where one person was killed and houses burnt.