CONFLICT ENTREPRENEURS AND PERPETUATION OF TIV-JUKUN ETHNIC CONFLICTS IN WUKARI, TARABA STATE

Abstract

The end of every conflict begins with an adequate knowledge of its political economy. An overwhelming majority of scholars agreed that as long as there are beneficiaries of a crisis, the chances of such conflict coming to an end become prolonged or impossible. This is a result of the roles played by instigators, war profiteers, or conflict entrepreneurs. These sets of beneficiaries play mutually complementary roles in terms of war, which ultimately define and determine the dynamics and directions of most violent conflicts, at both their latent and manifest stages. Thus, this paper aims to investigate how war profiteers, and instigators - or, in one word, conflict entrepreneurs – contributed to the perpetuation of the Tiv-Jukun crisis in the Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. The study employed the Greed and Grievance Theory as its theoretical framework for analysis. The study relied on mixed method of data collection and analyses. Both secondary and primary sources of data collection were utilized. The primary method involved the se of interviews and observation; while the secondary method comprised documentary sources such as books, journals, articles, etc. Findings showed that the seemingly irreconcilable nature of the Tiv-Jukun crisis in Wukari was contributed to by greed, which translates as the desire to acquire material resources; and pent-up accumulated grievances. To address such a conflict engendered by greed and grievance, the study recommends that a comprehensive approach be adopted, which should encompass addressing, economic inequalities, promoting inclusive governance, and addressing historical grievances. By addressing both the economic motivations and underlying grievances, sustainable peace and development can be achieved.