Taraba land tussle: Jibu chiefdom relocates Tiv community to Bali
The Jibu Chiefdom in Bali Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba on Wednesday relocated the Tiv community of Dugwer to another part of the chiefdom, to end an age long land dispute.
Alhaji Abubakar Mahmoud, the Traditional Ruler of Jibu (Kur Jibu), during the handing over of the new land in Utsuwa-Daar area of Bali, said that the aim was to settle the protracted land tussle between the Tiv and Hausa communities resident in the area.
Mahmoud expressed satisfaction that the Tiv, who were predominantly farmers, would henceforth be able to go ahead with their normal farming activities on the new land without hindrance.
He recalled that the dispute had been taken to court and withdrawn for an out of court settlement, adding that the provision of the new percel of land was a fulfilment of one of the conditions earlier reached towards resolution of the dispute.
The royal father said that the chiefdom had to wade into the crisis with a view to settling the dispute amicably for peace to reign in the area.
The traditional ruler advised the Tiv community to ignore some of the people who were bent on causing crisis between them and other tribes in order to satisfy their selfish interests.
Mahmoud also called on the Tiv leaders at the state level to checkmate their local leadership, to ensure they lived in peace with their neighbours.
He commended Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba, for giving him the opportunity to resolve the conflict in an area that was within his domain.
The paramount ruler also commended Kefas for providing the palace with a new vehicle, which he said, had enhanced mobility in his office.
While on the site, Mr Aper Agera, Village Head of Dugwer, a Tiv settlement within Bali town, accepted the offer from the traditional ruler on behalf of his people.
Agera however, complained that the land offered was small and that would not accommodate the whole community.
He alleged that the land taken away from the Tiv community was 600 square kilometers while the new land allocated to them was barely 200 square kilometers.
