Lafia, Nasarawa State – The indigenous Tiv people in Nasarawa State have raised their voices in a plea to both the state and federal governments, highlighting the relentless attacks on their kinsmen by suspected herdsmen in the region. They have also alleged that these recurring attacks are occurring in collaboration with certain traditional rulers in the state.
During a world press conference held in Lafia on Thursday, the Tiv communities expressed their concerns through Barr Barnabas Zayol, the president of the Tiv Youths Organisation in Nasarawa State. Zayol claimed that traditional rulers, who are expected to be peace facilitators, are joining forces with suspected herdsmen to wreak havoc on the indigenous Tiv people of the state.
Zayol stated, “The Tiv people in Doma LGA, particularly Doma South, are at the mercy of traditional rulers who are operating alongside Fulani herdsmen and their kinsmen to dispossess us of our farmlands and some homes.”
He continued, “We are here to inform the world that the Tiv people in Nasarawa State are deeply troubled due to the persistent onslaught, pogrom, arson, maiming, displacement, and occupation of our ancestral farmlands and homes by Fulani herdsmen. These individuals have been openly informed of their intentions to confront us, amidst threats from certain traditional rulers who have ceded our ancestral farmlands to them.”
The Tiv community’s grievances are rooted in what they see as the root cause of recurrent violence and loss of lives among their people. They contend that their ancestral lands and homes have been handed over to Fulani herdsmen by these traditional rulers and their associates. Furthermore, the Tiv people have been marginalized, with some labeling them as settlers and non-indigenous inhabitants of the state, which has exacerbated their concerns.
The Tiv people are now calling upon the government to address these issues promptly and effectively, safeguard the lives and property of the Tiv community, and put an end to the ongoing violence. This situation underscores the need for coordinated efforts and measures to promote peace and harmony among various communities in Nasarawa State.