Tiv Area Traditional Council Give Herders 10 Days Ultimatum To Vacate Tiv Land … MUT express support

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Tiv Area Traditional Council has requested the Governor Hyacinth Alia led administration to create an enabling environment to allow herders’ peaceful exit of farmlands in Tiv Kingdom to facilitate resumption of farming activities.

This was after the Tiv Monarch gave the herders a 10 days ultimatum to leave Benue land during their emergency meeting held in the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko,Benue State.

The Council also 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 resume.

The Council which was chaired by the Tor Tiv himself, HRM Prof James Ayatse 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.

According to a Communique signed by the Secretary of the Council Mr Shinyi Tyozua which deliberated particularly on the security situation in Tiv Kingdom the Council enumerated 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 Council 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

In a statement, the Tiv Socio Cultural Organization, Mdzough U Tiv (MUT) World wide, has expressed their full and unequivocal supported for the decision of the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) to give herders a 10-day ultimatum to vacate Tiv farmlands.

President General MUT World wide,Chief CP. Iorbee Ihagh (rtd) who described the ultimatum as a bold move said it aims to restore peace and facilitate farming activities in Tiv Kingdom, “and we commend the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse CFR, for his leadership in addressing this critical issue.”

Chief Iorbee said the TATC’s directive is a necessary step towards ensuring the security and dignity of our people, who have suffered greatly due to clashes with herders. “We stand in solidarity with our traditional council and call on all stakeholders to support this initiative.

According to MUT, “The TATC’s decision aims to restore peace in Tiv Kingdom by addressing the root causes of conflict between farmers and herders. It ensures the protection of Tiv farmlands, crucial for the livelihood of our people.

The group urged all herders in the affected areas, including Kwande, Katsina Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East, and Buruku Local Government Areas, to comply with the TATC’s directive and vacate Tiv farmlands within the specified timeframe.