Tiv To Governor Sule: “You Know That Attackers Of Benue Communities Are Harboured In Nasarawa State”

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Tiv Ethnic nationality in Benue State has insisted that the Governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule, has knowledge of the activities of   killer herdsmen believed to be behind the spate of violent attacks and killings ongoing in some parts of the State.

The Apex socio-cultural organization of the Tiv, Mzough U Tiv, MUT, pointedly told the Nasarawa Governor that he cannot, in all honesty, deny the claim that armed herdsmen have been using the territory of the State, to launch most of their attacks on unsuspecting residents of Benue State.

The Source reports that penultimate week, the Vice Chancellor of University of Mkar, Benue State, Prof Zachary Gundu, had accused Governor Sule of not only being  aware of the activities of the killer herdsmen, but also provides shelter for them in Nasarawa State.

He alleged that the Governor is very much in the picture of the fact that the armed herdsmen use their camps in Nasarawa State to carry out attacks on Benue State Communities.

However, the Governor, while denying the allegation, issued an ultimatum to  Prof Gundu, demanding a retraction or get prepared for a legal battle.

But  the Vice Chancellor, about two three days ago, called the bluff of Governor Sule, and insisted on meeting him in Court.

The MUT, in a statement, from CP Lorbe Lorbee, and Comrade Luther Lorbee President General and Secretary General respectively, said it is totally in solidarity with the position and views expressed by Prof Gundu.

The Tiv body remains adamant about the authenticity and verifiability of the claims made by the University of Mkar’s Vice Chancellor, concerning the activities and logistical support for the suspected killer herdsmen.

“We are specifically responding to the content of (Prof Gundu’s) press conference with further clarifications.

“There is nothing defamatory and libelous in the context of the public presentation made by the erudite scholar, Prof Zachary Gundu, because the public discourse in particular are enforced with perceived evidences of persisting insurgencies targeting Tiv indigenes of Nasarawa State, who are currently displaced into IDP camps in Benue.

“These protracted attacks are mostly emboldened by claims of Government (of Nasarawa State) taking over Tiv farmlands particularly for projects construction that are instead reallocated to strangers.

“The issue of the State hosting insurgents is authentic, verifiable, and in the public domain. It is a calamity that predates Governor Sule’s administration, which has raised regional and interstate concerns.

“Governor Sule had personally raised concerns about the presence of kidnappers’ den in Nasarawa State Communities, and called for Federal Government’s intervention to fish them out .

“He (Governor Sule) cannot, in anyway, deny knowledge of their presence in a State they use as their station to attack surrounding States.

“This matter is available in various intelligence sources, both formal and informal. It has been corroborated by the Plateau and Kogi State Governments as has been peddled by socio-cultural organizations, and Civil Society Groups such as Middle Belt Organization and local vigilante groups.

“Therefore, the views expressed by Prof Zachary Gundu remains authentic, verifiable and in public domain because the incessant invasions are specifically targeted at Tiv communities mostly on border lines between Nasarawa and Benue states,”  MUT stated.

The Apex Tiv Organization further noted that facts have emerged indicating that  some of the arrested suspected criminals behind the Yelewata massacre came from their camps in Nasarawa State.

The group stated that available intelligence has revealed that the attackers, also, retreated to their hideouts in Nasarawa State after the dastardly attacks on Yelewata.

In the face of the prevailing realities, the Tiv body urged the Nasarawa State Governor to rather explore peaceful means of resolving the security challenges, instead of trying to escalate the situation through unnecessary threats of legal actions.

“As the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of the State, Governor Sule should seek peace and reconciliation rather than jumping into veiled threats.

“This is not the path of defending the constitution and the people you swore to lead, and serve, neither is it in the spirit of good leadership, and neeighbourliness with a tribe that honoured you with a chieftaincy title.

“Benue and Nasarawa states are brothers; they are one and the same. We were all in Plateau before the creation of the two States

“It is not good for us to be in enmity. So, we are urging Governor Sule to put aside the idea of going to court. The Governor even agreed that herdsmen were freely entering into Nasarawa state because of the non- enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing Law.

“We, therefore, stand in solidarity with the views expressed by Prof Zachary Gundu as the true position of the Tiv people worldwide, and hereby express our willingness to be joined in the anticipated suit on your instructions.

“We believe his views were not directed at your person, but the office and institution of the Governor as cited previously to former Governor Tanko El-Makura during his tenure”, the MUT noted.