Land grabbing: Tiv groups sue Taraba govt, army to court

Indigenous Tiv communities of Ikyaior and Jandeikyula in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State have filed a N100 billion lawsuit against the state government, Governor Agbu Kefas, the Attorney-General, the Taraba State Geographic Information Service (TSGIS), and the Nigerian Army. The suit alleges the forceful seizure and destruction of their ancestral lands and farmlands.

Represented by a legal team led by constitutional lawyer Professor Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, the communities claim that soldiers and state authorities unlawfully took over approximately eight-by-six kilometres of land without prior notice, assessment, or compensation, in violation of statutory requirements.

The disputed land reportedly includes ancestral homes, farmlands, and other property passed down through generations of Tiv families.

The plaintiffs argue that the respondents’ actions contravene Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee the right to own property and prohibit compulsory acquisition without due process.

The suit seeks a court declaration that the government and military violated the communities’ fundamental rights, a perpetual injunction to stop further occupation or development of the land, and N50 billion each in general and exemplary damages for trespass and rights violations.

At a hearing in the Federal High Court in Jalingo, the presiding judge directed all respondents to appear and show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.

The court declined to grant the applicants’ ex parte motion and adjourned the matter to January 19, 2026, after the holiday recess.

Community members allege that following the military occupation, soldiers began excavating the land while crops remained unharvested.

Women who approached the site to plead for a delay in the excavation were reportedly beaten and injured.

The case has reignited attention on longstanding disputes over land ownership, military presence, and the rights of indigenous communities in Taraba State.