Our reporter/ The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse. on Wednesday told President Bola Tinubu that the killings in Benue State were a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by “herder terrorists and bandits” that had been on for decades.
Mr Ayatse stated in Makurdi at a town hall meeting with Mr Tinubu following the recent killing of more than 200 persons in an attack on Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The traditional ruler and Chairman of Benue Traditional Council said his people had made a lot of sacrifices to keep Nigeria united and wondered why they were being isolated for extermination.
He said, “We do have grave concerns about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State. Your Excellency, it’s not headers-farmers clashes, it’s not communal clashes, it’s not reprisal attacks or skirmishes.
“It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as ‘remain tolerant, negotiate for peace, learn to live with your neighbours’.”
“What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land grabbing campaign by header terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades and is worsening every year.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. So, we are dealing with something far more sinister than we think about. It’s not learning to live with your neighbors; it is dealing with the war,” the traditional ruler added.
He stated, “Many of our people died during the civil war; we paid the supreme price to keep this country united. There is genocide going on in our land. It is not clashes, but a well-orchestrated, well-coordinated attack aimed at wiping out our people. We know you are a courageous leader. You are a focused leader. You are a determined leader. You have the courage and the political will to end this menace. You have taken hard decisions and actions that many people before you did not dare. You have handled the subsidy removal challenge of this country. The exchange rate investment decisions, you have taken them. I believe you can give us peace. All we ask of you is peace.’’
The paramount ruler said the people, who were largely farmers, needed peace so that they would continue farming.
He, however, expressed concerns that the farmers had been chased away from their farms by the bloodthirsty invaders.
The Tor Tiv told Mr Tinubu that Tiv people in Nasarawa State were suffering the same fate, as they too had been chased away from their ancestral homes in some LGAs.
According to Ayatse, Tiv people’s lands have been taken from them, and labelled as settlers.
He stated, “They have been in Nasarawa State before the 18th century. They cannot be settlers. They need to returm to their ancestral homes to continue with their lives.’’
Mr Ayatse lauded Mr Tinubu for coming personally to identify with Benue people in their moment of grief.
He assured the president that the people of Benue who supported him in 2023 would continue to stand with him.
With NAN report
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