From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Tiv Area Traditional Council has given herdsmen operating up till the end of May to vacate all Tiv lands, so as to enable farmers return and cultivate their farms to avoid the looming hunger being envisaged.
The order was contained in a communique after its emergency meeting presided over by the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, attended by all graded traditional rulers in Tiv land to deliberate on the security situation.
The communique signed by the Secretary, Tiv Area Traditional Council, Shinyi Tyozua, and made available to journalists, at the end of the council’s emergency meeting held at the Tor Tiv’s Palace in Gboko, headquarters of Tiv land in Benue State, observed that farming activities have virtually ceased in the areas occupied by herders for grazing due to incessant attacks and killing of farmers.
The communique recalled some of the local government areas affected to include Kwande, Katsina-ala,Ukum,Logo,Guma, Makurdi,Gwer- West, Gwer-East and Buruku.
The council equally lamented that out of fear of being killed, farmers have abandoned their farms, stressing that there are no farming activities going on during the planting season.
The Tiv Area Traditional Council expressed worry that that if the situation continues, it will ultimately result to hunger in the kingdom, as well as exerbate the food security crisis already looming in the country since the kingdom contributes substantially to food production in Nigeria.
It requested the political and traditional leadership in each local government area to peacefully engage the herders to ensure their exit from Tiv land to allow farming activities resume.
The communique also appealed to the Benue State government to create an enabling environment to allow herders peaceful exit out of farmlands in Tiv Kingdom to facilitate resumption of farming activities.
