Hundreds of Tiv farmers on Wednesday continue to flee Wukari town and its environs into neighbouring Benue State following escalation of the crisis between Jukun and Tiv in the area.
Violence broke out in Kente Village of Wukari Local Government Area of the state on Monday following what locals described as an age-long problem, but triggered by a minor misunderstanding between Jukun and Tiv youths.
Rev. Fr. Peter Tari, the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wukari, told our correspondent that he had taken hundreds of displaced persons into the Parish House as IDPs.
Tari, who lamented the looting of property and burning of houses in Wukari and the surrounding villages, expressed disappointment over the crisis and called for urgent intervention.
“The situation is not any better. I am around the Federal University Wukari trying to rescue some of my parishioners.
“I was ashamed when I saw Jukun youths burning and looting Tiv people’s houses few meters away from General Hospital Wukari on Tuesday.
“Whatever is the issue, I want to call on the state government and the security agencies to quickly resolve the crisis in the interest of peace, and development,” he said.
Chairman of Wukari Local Government Council, Daniel Adi, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that he has been touring the trouble spots with security agencies to calm the tension.
“We have arrested so many people in connection to the crisis and looting of property. Many of those arrested are now at the Police Area Command in Wukari.
Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State Police command, ASP David Misal told our correspondent that security personnel have been drafted from Jalingo and Takum to Wukari to calm the situation.
“I can confirm to you that the situation is now calm and we are intensifying efforts to restore peace total peace in the area,” he said.
Manasseh Iortim, who fled the crisis and is taking refuge in Jootar in the neighbouring Benue State, lamented the inaction of the state government for the escalation of the crisis.
According to Iortim, if the Governor had declared a state of emergency in Wukari as was the case in Jalingo during the post election violence, the crisis in Wukari wouldn’t have escalated.
At the time of filing this report, Governor Darius Ishaku and his Deputy Haruna Manu were out of the state, but the Security Adviser to the governor Lt. Col Agyo Wapan (rtd) was said to be in Wukari for on the spot assessment.
