President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA) Nasarawa State, Comrade Peter Ahemba has alleged that there is a grand plot by the Fulani herdsmen, in collaboration with some tribes in the state, to annihilate the indigenous Tiv farmers in Nasarawa State.
He appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule not to allow the planned extermination of the Tiv ancestral homes by the Fulani militia happen during his reign as Governor of Nasarawa State.
The Fulani militia had, during the weekend, murdered a Catechist, Mr Sydney Shirsha of Amudu Village in Giza Chiefdom in Keana Local Government Area of the state alongside two other people.
The Fulani militia, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the Tse Amudu, a Tiv village in Giza Development Area of the state, killing the Catechist and two others in the midnight attack.
It was gathered that the attack left several others with various degrees of gunshot injuries, just as the incident has led to the displacement of over 20,000 more Tiv farmers from various villages within and outside the local government area.
Confirming the development to our correspondent, Comrade Peter Ahemba said Governor Sule is a father to all the Tiv people in Nasarawa State.
“He means well for us, he is doing his best to secure us, he is passionate about our safety and our security and I believe he will not allow the Fulani herdsmen to take over our ancestral homes.”
He regretted that the Tiv people have remained under sustained attacks by armed herders for no reason.
“The killing and displacement of the Tiv people of the state in the coordinated attacks have continued unabated since the first attack on the Ajimaka Community of Doma Local Government Area that led to the gruesome murder of nine people about a month ago.
“We call on Governor Sule to save our soul. We are being chased out of Nasarawa State and we appeal to the governor not to allow the seemingly planned elimination of the Tiv community to succeed under his watch.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the state government towards restoring peace and security in the affected areas and we, as law-abiding citizens shall continue to count on the government for the protection of our lives and property.”
“It is unfortunate that while the government is making frantic efforts to restore peace, the attackers and their collaborators are bent on ensuring that the Tiv community is completely wiped out of the state,” he said.
The Nasarawa Tiv leader also appealed to the state government to beef up security around the Internally Displaced Persons Camps, alleging that there are threats of more attacks on Tiv villages and IDP camps in the affected areas.
While appreciating traditional rulers in the affected local government areas for accommodating many of the displaced Tiv people in their personal homes and public facilities, the TIDA President equally acknowledged their untiring efforts towards complementing government’s efforts for peace and security.
- Source: The Nation
