Nigerian Army Facilitates Peace Between Taraba’s Feuding Ethnic Groups

 The Nigerian Army brokered a peace agreement between the Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups in Wukari LGA, Taraba State, on June 22, ending a week-long conflict that killed 10 and displaced 2,000. The accord, signed at the 6 Brigade headquarters, followed clashes over farmland that burned 62 homes.

Maj. Gen. Frank Etim, Commander of 6 Brigade, mediated talks between Tiv leader James Baka and Jukun’s Zaki Aondofa, securing commitments to cease hostilities and form a joint council. The army deployed 500 troops to enforce the peace, with checkpoints in Wukari and Donga LGAs. 

The conflict, sparked by a June 15 land dispute, reflects Taraba’s history of ethnic tensions, with 200 deaths since 2020, per ACLED.

Governor Agbu Kefas, who allocated ₦200 million for relief, praised the army’s role. The agreement includes a ban on armed militias and a land-sharing plan, monitored by the army until 2026. Residents expressed cautious optimism, though some fear reprisals. 

Analysts warn that Taraba’s 1,500 annual displacements require federal grazing policies. The peace deal aligns with Tinubu’s June 21 security directive.