NIGERIA: SSS DG ARE ON BENUE CONFLICT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 003239 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2011 TAGS: PGOV PINS NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: SSS DG ARE ON BENUE CONFLICT REF: A. ABUJA 3200 ¶B. ABUJA 2985 ¶C. ABUJA 2855 AND PREVIOUS (U) Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Aware of the international attention to the conflict in Benue, State Security Service (SSS) Director General Kayode Are briefly gave his insights into the Tiv-Jukun inter-communal conflict to Ambassador Jeter on December 11. Explaining that the SSS was seen as an impartial party by all sides, Are said the SSS was continuing to investigate the deaths of the 19 soldiers and the reprisal attacks. ¶2. (C) Are explained that many believed that the Tiv were originally from Bantu tribes in central and southern Africa, and had moved from Cameroon into the Jukun controlled Kwararafa Empire (covering most of west-central Nigeria) in the 18th century. However, the Tiv disagreed with much of this history, and in any case, they had lived in the area too long to still be considered settlers. Are flatly stated that both sides were attempting to use history, and sometimes revisionist history, to support their claims to control. These misguided sentiments were obstacles to political settlement and peace. ¶3. (C) Are identified several factors that impeded political solution and led to conflict between the Tiv and Jukun. Unemployed youth in the area, both Tiv and Jukun, were setting up roadblocks to take tolls and were always at hand to attack another group. Are stated that these youth had no political agenda, but were easy tools of those who did. Explaining that he had spoken to some notable political actors on both sides of the conflict, Are said that some efforts, including the formation of a seven-member peace committee, had been tried, but as of yet to no avail. ¶4. (C) The Tiv, traditionally an egalitarian and rural society, were historically under the leadership of the Jukun traditional leader, the Aku Uka. Because the Tiv were seen as settlers by the Jukun, and because of the conflicts between them which begun in the 1950s as Nigeria neared independence, the Jukun resisted allowing the Tiv to be part of the Wukari (Taraba State) Traditional Council. Implying Jukun complicity, Are stated that a number of Tiv village heads had recently been killed, because village heads are automatically part of the Council. In 1947, the British created the Tiv Council and the traditional/spiritual leader position of Tor Tiv. The Jukun also objected to the Tiv being part of the Wukari Council because of Tiv allegiance to the Tor Tiv. Finally, the Jukun (and many Nigerians in general) believed that the Tiv were expansionists, taking over land and power as they fanned out to take new land for agriculture. ¶5. (C) According to Are, a political solution would have to be found. However, until the two sides could control the youth, and make concessions to each other, conflict would continue, despite everyone's best efforts. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Are had a sound historical reading of the conflict, and his assessment of the need for political concessions from both sides is absolutely correct. The Tiv-Jukun conflict, with periodic explosions, has been simmering in the Middle Belt for about 50 years, and will continue to burn until a serious effort is made to resolve the many issues. At the Operation Focus Relief graduation in Serti (Taraba State) on December 12, the Taraba State Deputy Governor Alhaji Danboyi told the Ambassador that the Tiv could have land and that the Jukun are willing to live together with them, but would never allow the Tiv to be part of Jukun traditional and political institutions. Until this type of position softens, the conflict likely will go on. Jeter