The longstanding land dispute between the Tiv and Hausa communities in Bali Local Government Council of Taraba State, has come to an end following the relocation of the Tiv community to a different area.
The traditional ruler of Jibu chiefdom, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmoud, relocated the Tiv community of Dugwer to another part of the chiefdom.
The move, as made known by him on Thursday in Taraba, is aimed at ending the prolonged conflict between the Tiv and Hausa communities in the area.
Mahmoud explained that the relocation is part of an effort to achieve an out-of-court settlement and bring about peace in the region.
“By allocating this new land, we hope to resolve the land dispute amicably, allowing the Tiv community to continue their farming activities without any hindrance,” Mahmoud said.
The conflict, as noticed by DAILY POST, had previously been taken to court but was later withdrawn to allow for a negotiated resolution.
The traditional ruler advised the Tiv community to be wary of individuals who might attempt to incite further conflicts for personal gain.
He also encouraged Tiv leaders at the state level to ensure that their local leadership promotes peace and cooperation with neighboring communities.
Elated by the development, the representative of Tiv community, Aper Agera, who accepted the new land on behalf of his people, applauded the monarch, the leadership of the council, and the state government for laying to rest the longstanding dispute.
He, however, pointed out that the land taken from the Tiv community measured about 600 square kilometers, while the new land allocated to them was only about 200 square kilometers.
The disparity in land sizes, as made known by him, will not be sufficient to accommodate the needs of the Tiv, hence the need for the authority to locate more square kilometers of land for them in the new area.
Land dispute: Jibu chiefdom relocates Tiv community to resolve conflict in Taraba