A retired military intelligence officer, politician, and philanthropist, Hon. Nahum Tsokwa, has called on residents of Rafin-Kada in Wukari local government area to embrace unity and cooperation for the overall development of the area.
Rafin-Kada is a community dominated by the Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups, that suffered ethnic clash in recent times.
Speaking during a community peace and unity gathering, held in Rafin-Kada, Hon. Tsokwa emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing insecurity and promoting peaceful coexistence among residents.
“The issue of insecurity is everybody’s business. This country has given me so much, and I believe it’s my duty to give back to my community. It’s better to stop a crisis at its early stage than to allow it to grow. I came to ensure all factions come together, discuss, and live in unity.”
As part of his peace initiative, Tsokwa distributed cash grants of ₦50,000 each to 20 beneficiaries, alongside food items for elderly women and youths from both communities.
He said, the gesture was aimed at fostering reconciliation and rebuilding trust among residents, who have been affected by recurring communal clashes.
He further appealed to the government to strengthen security operations in the area by providing logistics to improve surveillance.
Representative of the Tiv community, Wase Terlumun commended Tsokwa’s peace efforts, describing unity as vital to the survival of Southern Taraba and the state at large.
He urged political leaders to “fear God in their dealings” and to prioritize peace, warning that persistent conflicts only breed hatred and destruction among the younger generation.
Similarly, Rafin-Kada youth leader, Mr. Dantani Danjuma, representing the Jukun community, lamented the continued attacks along the Wukari–Rafin-Kada road by armed militias.
He noted that despite several protests and appeals, the attacks persisted, making it unsafe for farmers to access their farmlands freely.
The chairman of Wukari local government area, Hon. Samaila Dauda, who attended the event, expressed concern over the rising insecurity in his domain.
“It pains me to see that someone’s motorcycle was snatched by militias and later the person was killed,” he said. “We’ve deployed anti-kidnapping teams and I personally support their patrols. I’ve also requested motorcycles from the state government to boost security patrols along the Wukari–Rafin-Kada road,” he added.
