December 24, (THEWILL) – The Tiv Youth Organisation has condemned the persistent killing and displacement of Tiv people in Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue, and other parts of the country, describing the situation as a systematic assault on their community.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the Association of United Farmers Benue-Valley at the NUJ House in Makurdi on Tuesday, the Acting President of TYO, Comrade Patrick Terfa Angbagh, called for justice and urgent action to end the violence.
“The Tiv people, known for their peaceful nature, resilience, and contributions to Nigeria’s growth and development, have continuously faced targeted attacks and injustices,” Angbagh said.
Angbagh lamented that over the past year, hundreds of Tiv indigenes have been murdered, displaced, and had their homes destroyed by marauding assailants.
He noted that communities in Nasarawa, Taraba, and Benue have been rendered homeless, farmlands destroyed, and livelihoods shattered.
He said, “This wave of violence is not random. It is systemic, coordinated, and aimed at the total annihilation of the Tiv people.
“These atrocities are not just an attack on our people but on the fabric of Nigeria’s unity and peaceful coexistence.”
The organisation also called on the United Nations, African Union, and other international human rights bodies to intervene and ensure justice for the victims.
The group challenged traditional, political, and religious leaders to fulfill their responsibilities, warning that silence or complacency in the face of such atrocities amounts to complicity.
The President of the Association of United Farmers Benue-Valley, Chief Dennis Utsa, reiterated calls for justice, demanding the release of farmers killed during a June attack in Keana Local Government Area for proper burial.
He also called for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the killings and ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the attacks.
The groups jointly appealed for concerted efforts to restore peace, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure the Tiv people and other affected communities can live without fear of violence and displacement.
