Jukun Association Demands Action On Benue Chieftaincy Laws

The National Association of Jukun Wanu (NAJUWA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what it termed longstanding injustice against the Jukun-Wanu people in Benue State.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, NAJUWA’s secretary general, Musa Atase, appealed to the president to compel the Benue State government to review and amend the Chieftaincy Laws of 2016.

He said the existing law failed to recognise the traditional leadership structures of the Jukun-Wanu, despite their historic presence and legitimacy.

“The Benue State Traditional Council must acknowledge our traditional stools,” Atase said.

He said the community’s chiefdoms at Abinsi and Agyogo (Wurkum Makurdi) date back in official records from 1934.

The association also demanded the full implementation of recommendations from previous commissions of inquiry into the Tiv-Jukun-Wanu conflict, especially the Justice Oki Report of 1995 and the Commassie Report of 2003.

Atase described the condition of Jukun-Wanu communities as dire, citing total lack of infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, schools and clean water.

He also criticised the Benue government for excluding Jukun-Wanu people from employment, governance and political participation, calling it a form of institutional erasure.

“Our people are being pushed into invisibility. We have no local government, no constituency, and no voice in the state’s affairs,” he said .

The association warned that the continued neglect of the Jukun-Wanu poses a threat to peace and inclusivity in Benue State.

It reaffirmed its commitment to defending its heritage and called on the international community to support its push for justice and equality.