The Tor Tiv V, Prof. James Ayatse, has asked the President Bola Tinubu to utilize his leadership skills to end the violence in Benue and bring peace to the region. The statement was made during the town hall meeting in Makurdi following a horrific attack in Yelewata which saw over 200 people were killed.
The traditional ruler stated that the violence that has occurred in the area is not the result of a clash between farmers and shepherds and it is a “well-planned genocidal invasion” that has forced people from their homes and farms. The king added that the murders are threatening the stability and peace that Benue residents helped defend during the Nigerian civil war.
He praised the president’s prior bold choices, including the elimination of subsidies and reforms to the economy and said that the same determination can be employed to stop the bloodshed. “You have the capacity to restore permanent peace,” he said to the president.
Tor Tiv also spoke about the situation of Tiv people living in Nasarawa State, saying they are native to the land, not settlers as is often said. Tor Tiv pleaded with President Obama to assist them in returning to their ancestral home in peace.
He also urged security and military forces to collaborate with the local authorities at both Benue and Nasarawa to stop any further attacks. The president was thanked for his visit to Benue personally, saying it demonstrated an underlying care for victims as well as their families.
His words have led to calls for a more robust security response and more assistance for the communities that have been displaced in the region.
