The Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) has given herdsmen a 10-day ultimatum to vacate Tiv Kingdom following escalating attacks across Benue State communities.
The ultimatum was issued through a communique after an emergency meeting held at the palace of Tor Tiv in Gboko, chaired by His Royal Majesty James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse.
House of Representatives member for Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, Ojema Ojotu, highlighted the severity of the security crisis, stating that “lives of human beings have no value” due to frequent attacks.
“Benue State is badly heated and there is high level of insecurity. People are dying and nothing significant is being done to arrest the situation,” Ojotu said, noting that his constituency of Apa and Agatu faces similar challenges.
The traditional rulers identified the worst-affected areas as Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East, and Buruku local government areas, where farming activities have been severely disrupted.
According to the communique signed by Council Secretary Shinyi Tyozua, herdsmen have invaded farmlands, grazed cattle on cultivated lands, and attacked farmers, forcing many to abandon their homes.
The Council appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to create conditions for the peaceful exit of herders and urged all political and traditional leaders in Tiv-dominated areas to engage peacefully with the herdsmen to ensure their departure.
Traditional rulers warned that continued attacks could trigger widespread hunger across Nigeria if farmers cannot return to their lands.
