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