Traditional rulers in Benue State have given nomadic herders and suspected terrorists a renewed 14-day ultimatum to leave the state’s farmlands or face serious repercussions.
The directive was jointly declared by the Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Chief John Elaigwu Odogbo, on behalf of the Benue State Traditional Council.
The announcement was made during a Town Hall Meeting at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi.
The event, part of activities marking Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s second year in office, was convened by the office of the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communications, Solomon Iorpev.
Addressing the gathering, the traditional rulers decried the worsening insecurity across the state, particularly the killings allegedly carried out by armed militias suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
“Due to the alarming escalation of violent attacks, in which innocent indigenous residents are being gruesomely murdered in their homes, we are issuing a 14-day ultimatum to all nomadic herders and terrorist elements to leave Benue lands immediately,” the traditional council declared.
“We can no longer fold our arms while our people are slaughtered without justification. This is a matter of survival for our communities,” they emphasized.
The town hall was attended by several top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, who represented Governor Alia.
Also in attendance were the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Chenge, local government chairpersons, commissioners, special advisers, religious and traditional leaders, political stakeholders, youth and women groups, civil servants, pensioners, labour unions, and student unions.
