By Ayo Kehinde
A cross-section of farmers in Benue State has expressed support for the Tiv Traditional Council’s directive ordering herders to vacate farmlands across the Tiv Kingdom, to allow for full-scale resumption of farming activities.
State Coordinator of Sustainable Agriculture in Benue, Mr. Aondona Saaku, said the directive is timely, given the threat posed to food security by the continued occupation of farmlands by herders.
Saaku said the move was in the best interest of both parties and urged herders to comply with the order in order to avoid further tensions in the affected communities.
“This directive is timely and necessary. If the herders vacate these lands peacefully, everyone stands to benefit. Farmers will return to their fields, and herders can seek alternatives without conflict,” he said.
He added that many Benue farmers had been displaced and forced into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps due to violent attacks by invading herders—many of whom, he claimed, do not even speak the Fulani language familiar to local residents.
Saaku, a former State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), also noted that Benue farmers have historically practiced ranching, especially during the rainy season, and called for full compliance with the eviction directive.
Also lending his voice, a member of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley (AUFBV), Mr. John Upulugh, commended the Tiv Traditional Council for what he described as a long-overdue intervention.
He noted that the Tiv people in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states had been displaced from their ancestral lands over the years due to herder-related attacks and could not fully engage in farming.
Recall that the Tiv Area Traditional Council, under the leadership of the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, issued a 10-day ultimatum to all herders to vacate the Tiv Kingdom.
The decision was announced during an emergency meeting held at the Tor Tiv’s Palace in Gboko. The council warned that failure to comply with the directive could worsen existing tensions and further exacerbate the looming food crisis.
According to a communiqué signed by the Council’s Secretary, Mr. Shinyi Tyôzua, traditional and political leaders in affected local government areas have been tasked with peacefully engaging herders to ensure their exit on or before Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The affected areas include Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East, and Buruku.
The Council lamented that farming activities in the kingdom have come to a halt due to the occupation of farmlands for grazing and persistent attacks on farmers. It warned that the situation, if not addressed, could lead to widespread hunger in the Tiv Kingdom and beyond.
The directive aims to restore peace and allow farmers to return to their lands, underscoring the urgency of ensuring food security in the region.
