The Mutual Union of the Tiv in the United States has called for immediate and concrete measures to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where persistent violence has displaced thousands of Tiv people in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
The call was contained in a communiqué on Sunday issued at the end of MUTA’s 31st Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, and signed by its President, Prof. Akaa Ayangeakaa, and Secretary, Beeior Rov-Ikpah.
“We are gravely concerned about the ongoing insecurity affecting Tiv communities, particularly the massacre and displacement of thousands due to violence by armed herdsmen,” the communiqué stated.
It urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security and facilitate the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral lands in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
“We seek urgent action by the Nigerian Federal Government to provide adequate security and facilitate the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral lands in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
“We equally call for a comprehensive resettlement plan that includes economic empowerment and infrastructure development to rebuild affected communities”, part of the group’s statement read.
The group also urged the Benue State Government to strengthen enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing Law and establish community-based surveillance systems that actively involve Tiv youth in intelligence gathering and rapid response to threats.
“The Benue government should take deliberate and sustained action to empower relevant agencies and ensure the full implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law, which is critical to protecting the lives, livelihoods, and ancestral lands of the Tiv people”, it continued.
The group recommended the adoption of modern security technologies, including drones, to monitor and protect Tiv communities, saying such tools will enhance real-time monitoring, improve response times, and serve as a force multiplier in detecting and deterring threats.
MUTA also called for an end to the occupation of Tiv lands by armed herders and other groups, which threatens the survival of Tiv cultural and agricultural heritage, and appealed to the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.
“We seek an end to the occupation of Tiv lands by armed herders and other groups, which threatens the survival of Tiv cultural and agricultural heritage.
“We appeal to the international community’s support to address the humanitarian crisis and hold perpetrators of violence accountable”, the group’s statement concluded.
The organisation pledged to engage with Nigerian authorities, international organisations, and human rights bodies to advocate for policies that protect Tiv lives and property and to partner with other ethnic and cultural organisations to amplify the call for peace and justice in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
