From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Tiv farmers from eight communities in Obi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, staged a protest on Thursday, May 1, against the alleged forceful seizure of their ancestral farmlands by the state government.
The protesters, from Ayakeke, Osula, China, Shankodi, Udugh, Ikychiha, Utsuwa, and Daura, demanded justice and urged Governor Abdullahi Sule to halt all activities on their lands, claiming they were not consulted.
Benjamin Tyoga, speaking for the protesters during the governor’s visit to inspect farmlands for the 2025 farming season, said, “We don’t believe the governor’s words because the land belongs to our fathers, hundreds of years ago. If it is to be taken, we should have been consulted—not just for him to come and inspect and talk to us because we are protesting.”
He rejected Sule’s call to send leaders, stating, “He said we should send leaders, but we are the people—all of us here. Why can’t he talk to us directly? This is purely seizure of our lands by force.”
Tyoga emphasised farming as their livelihood, noting, “If you create roads and we don’t have what to eat to survive, what have you done?” Another protester, Terhemba Iveren, added, “This is not just land, this is our identity, our history, our home. You cannot just come and take it without talking to us directly.” Elder Iorliam Aondofa demanded a town hall meeting, saying, “The governor must return with his team to genuinely meet with us—not just visit our land and leave.”
Governor Sule responded, urging calm and stating, “Send your leaders to represent you to speak to me. Don’t send troublemakers because if you send troublemakers, you all will be in trouble.” He defended the project, saying, “The farm is not my personal property but for the people of Nasarawa State, including you,” and claimed legal authority: “All lands belong to the state government. We can only allow and give time for those who have economic trees, and if need be, we will compensate.”
Farmers, including Terver Gbakough, reported no prior notification, stating, “They just came one day and said the land is for a government farm project.” Human rights activist Isaac Gbande warned, “The government must follow the principles of free, prior, and informed consent before displacing any community, even for development purposes.”
Security operatives maintained order amid heightened tensions. The farmers vowed to continue their protest, with Tyoga concluding, “We are not against development. We are against the injustice of being ignored, displaced, and spoken to like we don’t matter.”