UNC sounds concern over 'undeclared war'
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, May 04 2026: Issuing what it described as a "clarion call" to all tribal hohos for collective action to safeguard ancestral land and identity, the United Naga Council (UNC) has raised a grave concern over the deteriorating security situation and sustained armed aggression against Naga villages.

In a strongly worded appeal addressed to the president of All Tribe Hohos of Nagaland on May 3, the UNC said the Naga people are confronting an "undeclared war" unfolding across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, particularly in Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati districts.

The council recalled that when ethnic violence broke out between Meiteis and Kukis on May 3, 2023, Nagas maintained neutrality and extended humanitarian assistance to displaced persons from both communities.

However, several Naga villages are now facing targeted attacks from armed cadres operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, it added.

Tracing the escalation of tensions to the arson incident at Litan on February 8, 2026, the council said that repeated firing incidents have occurred since.

Villages including Sakarphung, Litan, Thoyee, Sinakeithei and Ringui are facing continuous threats and attacks, it said.

The situation is not merely a law-and-order problem but a challenge to Naga historical identity and territorial rights, it said, warning that attempts to distort Naga history and weaken claims over ancestral lands could have longterm political consequences for the community.

"Our ancestral domains are the covenant of our forefathers", the council said, asserting that any loss of land would amount to a loss of the Naga Nation's future.

Calling upon tribal hohos across Nagaland, the UNC urged unity beyond tribal or geographical divisions, stressing that an attack on any Naga village should be viewed as an injury to the entire Naga people.

The council appealed for documentation of incidents, public awareness campaigns, and mobilization through Churches and community institutions to highlight the situation at regional and international platforms.

It also appealed for prayer support and humanitarian assistance for village volunteers and displaced families guarding vulnerable areas, stating that community solidarity is essential in times of crisis.

"If the fire at our doorstep today is ignored, it may reach every Naga doorstep tomorrow," the council cautioned.

The council further appealed to the international community, human rights organisations and indigenous peoples' forums to closely monitor developments in Manipur.

It highlighted that the indigenous populations are facing displacement amid continued violence.

Reaffirming its resolve, the UNC declared that the Naga people would defend their land and historical legacy.

It also called for unity under a shared commitment to protect ancestral domains for future generations.

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