NSCN-K Niki defends MoU with NSCN-IM, hits out at ZUF(J)

DIMAPUR – The NSCN/GPRN-K Niki has said its regional MoU with NSCN-IM was signed “solely to promote unity and peace among Zeliangrongs in particular and Nagas in general“, and has asked the Zeliangrong communities to say publicly where they stand on the Zeliangrong United Front (Jenchui), or ZUF(J).

The press statement, issued by the group’s Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) from Oking on Monday (Ref. No. 02/PS-11/MIP/2026-27), is its second on the dispute in five days. It comes a day after the ZUF issued a counter statement alleging that the Zeliangrong Region units of the two NSCN groups signed an MoU on 30 June and have since been operating jointly against it.

Monday’s statement acknowledges a regional MoU with the NSCN (IM), but does not give its date or terms. It does not directly address the ZUF’s charge of joint operations, which the group had rejected as baseless on 5 November.

The claims in the statement have not been independently verified by Nagaland.News.

‘With all means at our disposal’

The group said it “minces no words” in declaring that it will “defend Naga political aspirations with all means at our disposal”. The statement did not spell out what those means would be.

Allegations against ZUF(J)

The NSCN/GPRN-K (Niki) alleged that unnamed “inimical forces” had achieved “some success in sowing seeds of sectarianism” in the Naga national movement, and named ZUF(J) as an example. It urged Nagas to be cautious of what it called propaganda spread through the group, whose members it described as “stooges of foreign occupiers”.

The statement further alleged that ZUF(J), “in collusion with Kukis and foreign invaders“, has been attacking Nagas in southern Nagaland “for reasons best known to them”. It gave no dates, places or other details of any such attacks, and Nagaland.News could not independently verify the claim.

It also accused a “few” people within ZUF(J) of trying to “hijack, distort and taint the proud legacy of the Zeliangrong people in the Naga National Movement”.

Zeliangrong tribes asked to take a stand

Citing a non-cooperation movement declared against ZUF(J) by the Joint Tribes Council of Manipur (JTCM) on 23 July 2026, the statement said the Zeliangrong communities, which it listed as the Zeme, Liangmai, Inpui and Rongmei, should publicly clarify their positions on what it called ZUF(J)’s “anti Naga activities”.

It singled out the Rongmei community, asking it to state publicly whether it condones and supports the activities the statement attributed to the “Jenchui Kamei group”. Jenchui Kamei leads the ZUF(J).

The group ended the statement by saluting the Zeliangrong people, who it said had “always stood unwaveringly as towering stalwarts in the Naga National Movement”.

What the JTCM declared in July

The JTCM and the councils of the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme tribes declared the non-cooperation movement at an emergency meeting on 23 July, EastMojo reported. The meeting followed what the council described as a ZUF(J) attack on Naga Village Guards at Bitiang village in Manipur’s Noney district on the morning of 22 July.

The JTCM resolved that ZUF(J) would receive no “political, social, or logistical” cooperation from the four communities. It also alleged at the time that ZUF(J) was operating in collusion with Kuki forces, an allegation that was not independently verified.

No response yet from ZUF

The ZUF had not responded to Monday’s statement at the time of publishing. In its counter statement on 8 November, the outfit said it stands “in defense of Zeliangrong land and people without alienation to the common Naga cause”, and that it would answer any threat with what it called “measure equivalent reaction”.

The NSCN (IM) has not publicly commented on the MoU. No Kuki organisation or Zeliangrong tribal body had responded to the statement by the time of publishing. Nagaland.News will update this story if they do.

Background

The exchange of statements follows the 4 November gunfight at Taodaijang (Buanruang) in Manipur’s Noney district, in which at least three people were killed. The ZUF(J) has since claimed that NSCN-K (Niki) cadres took part in operations against it.

The ZUF was formed in 2011. A faction led by Kamson broke away and signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre in 2019, while the group led by Jenchui Kamei continued its armed campaign.

The NSCN/GPRN that issues statements from Oking is identified by The Morung Express as the NSCN-K (Niki). The group split from the NSCN (K) in 2021, and its ceasefire with the Centre was last extended on 7 September 2026 for one year, ETV Bharat reported. The NSCN (IM) has been in a ceasefire with the Centre since 1997.

For a guide to the many Naga armed groups, see our explainer: How many Naga army factions are there in Nagaland?