MONARCHS GIVE HERDERS TEN DAYS ULTIMATUM TO VACATE FARMLANDS 22-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Tiv Area Traditional Council during its emergency meeting held in the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko 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.
Consequently, the Council directs 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, His Royal Majesty, 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 to cultivate their farms 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 decried 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.