Tor Tiv Orcivirigh, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
The Tiv Area Traditional Council in Benue State has issued a 10-day ultimatum to herders operating within the Tiv nation, directing them to vacate the area without delay.
The council, comprising monarchs from the region, has also appealed to the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to create a conducive environment for a peaceful exit of herders from farm lands in Tiv kingdom. This move aims to facilitate the resumption of farming activities in the area.
The resolutions were made during an emergency meeting of the council, held at the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko, Benue State. The meeting, which focused on the security situation in Tiv kingdom, culminated in a communique signed by the Secretary of the Council, Mr. Shinyi Tyozua.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Tor Tiv on Media and ICT, Freddie Adamgbe said the monarchs have directed political and traditional rulers in each local government area of Tiv Kingdom to peacefully engage the herders to ensure their exit from the local government areas to allow farming activities resume.
The Council, which was chaired by the Tor Tiv, HRM Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse CFR “equally appealed to all herders in Tiv Kingdom in Benue State to vacate all Tiv lands before the end of May 2025 to allow farmers return and cultivate their farms in order to avoid the looming hunger in Nigeria.”
It listed the communities worst affected to include those in Kwande, Katsina Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West Gwer East and Buruku Local Government Areas.
The traditional rulers lamented that farming activities in the kingdom have ceased due to the occupation of farmlands by herders for grazing and attacks and killings of farmers who fled stressing that if the situation continues it will ultimately result to hunger in Tiv Kingdom and Nigeria as a whole
