Revisiting the Jukun-Tiv Inter-Ethnic Crisis in Wukari, Taraba State Nigeria

The Jukun-Tiv relation has increasingly gone through troubling stages over the years, especially as from the late 1950s. Every revolving point seems to revise the level of co-operation between the two ethnic groups in the present day Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. This recounting trend gives the imprint that the two ethnic groups never enjoyed peaceful interaction. However, this assumption has been studied and proved to be wrong. An in-depth assessment of the available sources about the Jukun-Tiv interaction and collaboration shows that the phenomenon has not always been dominated by crises. There are strong socio-economic and cultural bonds that bind the two ethnic groups together. Thus, much of the inter-communal crises that have categorized the relationship between the two ethnic groups developed during the colonial era, which are attributed to factors such as issue of boundary demarcation, competition over land usage and ownership, fear of political domination, chieftaincy and rulership, indigenes-settlers question, and struggle for political positions and economic resources among others. This paper by employing the conflict trap theory argues that the promotion of the interest of conflict entrepreneurs account for the persistent crisis between the two ethic groups. The paper relies on documentary method of data collection and utilizes secondary sources. The study is essentially descriptive, qualitative and historical. This paper recommended among other things the conversion of militant groups that foment and fuel crisis for economic and political profits into parties or other political actors that will still use mobilizational tools such as appeals to ethnic and religious solidarity in a non-violent way.