Killings in Benue: Forum of Ayatutu Professors calls for self help to tackle insecurity

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Forum of Ayatutu Professors from the Tiv extraction of Benue State have called for community approach to tackle insecurity and contain the incessant attacks and killings in communities in the state by armed herdsmen.

The forum stated this in a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Board of Trustees and Council of Management of the Forum, Prof.

The Forum noted that resorting to community approach which is self-help would ensure that the people defend themselves against external aggressors. They however cautioned that such should be carried out within the framework of managing post-conflict complexities.

They said their was need to begin to mobilize and organize the people of the state to defend their lives, land, and the future wellbeing of their children, against land grabbers collaborating with ambitious but self-centered politicians and traditional rulers.

They also called on its lawmakers in the national and state assemblies to come out of their comfort zones and urgently take steps to thrash out what it described as “potential whispers of war.”

The statement read, “Pursuant to the aims and objectives for its formation, the Forum of Ayatutu Professors met and discussed the ongoing killings in Benue state by the marauding armed Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors for purposes of islamization, land grabbing, disruption of the economy, the culture and education of the people, mining of minerals among others.

“The Forum acknowledged that despite the efforts of the various tiers of Government (in tackling insecurity) they have failed in their responsibility of protecting lives and property of the Tiv people and Benue state citizens in general.

“The Forum agreed that in the immediate, there is the need for community approach to security, self-help, but it must be within the framework of careful post-conflict management of its complexities.

“There is a need therefore to mobilize and organize our people to defend their lives, land, and the future wellbeing of their children. We must defend against ambitious land grabbers working in cohort with some power-seeking, disoriented, ambitious but self-centered politicians and traditional rulers.

Furthermore, “The Forum calls for the expansion of the role of Benue State Bureau of Homeland Security to include Farming Communities Protection and further recommends an annual levy of one thousand naira for all taxable adults in Tiv land and Benue State in general for the funding of the activities of the renamed Bureau of Homeland Security and Farming Communities Protection.

“The Forum encourages the Tiv and Benue people to remain focused and united. The era of the attitude of a community for myself is gone. The longer we journey on the road to unity, the more sense of belonging grows and deepens.This is the only way we can collectively challenge and fight this deliberate but unprovoked humiliation.

“The Forum encourages the Governor of Benue State Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and all the Paramount traditional rulers to keep their focus on this uncomfortable cross.

“The Forum equally encourages all the National and State Legislature of Benue to speak, act urgently and interrupt their comfort zones to deal with these potential whispers of war”, the Forum advised.

Our correspondent reports that the Forum of Ayatutu Professors, a non profit and non political organization was incorporated on 28 February 2024 “To advocate for the institution and sustenance of systems of accountable management of public resources
to ensure effective, pro-poor service delivery by relevant sectors foster the spirit of unity and mutual co-existence among Tiv professors worldwide.

“To cater for the provision of basic infrastructure as well as the promotion of safe and sustainable
management of the environment to guarantee an improved living atmosphere for citizens.

“To encourage the creation of an enabling environment that supports wealth creation to improve the
standards of living of the people such as agriculture,animal,fisheries and forestry resources, rural development, commerce and tourism, industries, green, white and blue revolutions, markets, trade and investment promoting alternatives to pesticides &chemicals in agriculture,role of civil society and private sector.

“To advocate for provision of basic infrastructure,including potable water supply,good roads,electricity, housing, and renewal of urban systems,as well as the promotion of safe and sustainable management of the environment to guarantee an improved living atmosphere for citizens such as infrastructure and water resources.

“To advocate for the creation of an atmosphere that guarantees safety and security of persons and property and enhances efficiency in the administration of justice and effectiveness of the legislature and promote collaboration between professors of Tiv culture and uphold the tenets of higher learning.”