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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The crisis of land grab currently affecting Tiv Communities in the southern part of Nasarawa State continues to escalate, with leaders of the affected communities alleging that traditional rulers are responsible for the invasion of their ancestral homes and farmlands by Fulani herders.
The leaders have urgently appealed to Engr Abdullahi Sule, the state governor, to intervene and address the situation promptly. They expressed concern over the continued recruitment of Fulani herders by traditional rulers to invade their properties, despite the establishment of a probe panel aimed at investigating the land grab crisis in the southern senatorial district of the state.
Sun reports that the land grab crisis has caused loss of lives and property in the southern senatorial district of Nasarawa State. Governor Abdullahi Sule had previously established an investigative panel to address the disputed areas between the Tiv Communities and other communities in the southern part of the state.
During the resumed sitting of the probe panel in Lafia on Wednesday, Dr Richard Tseku, a clinical psychologist, alleged that certain traditional rulers, including the district head of Adogi and the Osakyo of Asakyo, were refusing to cooperate with the panel’s investigation.
Dr Tseku highlighted that “Tiv communities in the southern part of the state were under attack by suspected herders recruited to seize their ancestral lands and farmlands.”
Dr Tseku shared his personal experience, stating that he has been a refugee in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja since 2014 due to continuous attacks. He lamented the loss of his house and farmland and emphasized that the Tiv Communities have been deprived of peace and stability for an extended period.
The clinical psychologist called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to intervene further by compelling the traditional rulers to participate in the probe panel’s proceedings. He also urged the governor to ensure the relocation of Fulani herders to allow the Tiv Communities to return to their ancestral lands.
Joseph Orjeme, a Tiv community leader, accused the traditional rulers of being the masterminds behind the land grab crisis in the Tiv settlements. Orjeme alleged that these rulers were forcing Tiv farmers to annually donate one-third of their produce, creating an untenable situation for the Tiv community in the affected senatorial zone.
Orjeme emphasized the urgent need for a resolution to the land crisis and questioned the predicament of the Tiv people who were becoming strangers in their own land. He stressed that the Tiv people have a historical presence in Nasarawa State, and being treated as outsiders is unacceptable.
At a previous hearing in Lafia, Barnabas Zayol, the President of the Tiv Youth Organization (TYO) and counsel to the complainants, expressed optimism that the probe panel’s establishment would bring hope to the communities. He appealed to all parties involved to respect the committee’s proceedings for the sake of peace and development.
The Committee Chairman, William Akika, assured the involved communities that the committee would conduct a thorough investigation to find a lasting solution to the land grab crisis in the southern part of the state. He emphasized the importance of reaching a resolution that satisfies both parties involved.
