Benue Royal Fathers, Leaders Vow to Defend Ancestral Land Amid Rising Herders’ Attacks

Traditional rulers and community leaders in Yelwata, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, have vowed to resist further aggression from armed herders, declaring that no part of their ancestral land will be surrendered or negotiated away.

The leaders made the declaration during a crisis meeting in Naka, the Gwer West council headquarters, following a series of brutal attacks on communities across the region.

The violence, allegedly perpetrated by suspected Fulani herders, has resulted in dozens of deaths, widespread displacement, and the destruction of homes, farmlands, and livelihoods.

The Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Ayua Abomtse, who presided over the meeting, stated emphatically that no individual or group had the authority to negotiate land or seek any form of settlement with the herders.

According to him, persistent violence is not about grazing or mere conflict but a coordinated attempt to occupy and seize indigenous lands by force.

Chief Abomtse said the traditional institution had resolved to defend every inch of Tiv ancestral land, warning that anyone caught facilitating land discussions with invading herders would face severe traditional and legal consequences.

“Our people have suffered enough. The killings, rapes, burning of homes, and destruction of farmlands are clear acts of aggression.

This is no longer about conflict it is about survival. We must rise to defend our land, our heritage, and our future,” he said.

In a separate statement, Rev. Fr Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese, condemned the attacks and called for immediate government intervention. He noted that over 50 people had been killed in recent weeks, including women and children, and described the atrocities as a form of ethnic cleansing aimed at displacing the Tiv people.

“The blood of our people cries out for justice. This is not an ordinary crisis it is calculated, it is targeted, and it must not be allowed to continue. Our youth must stay vigilant. We call on the state and federal governments to act swiftly and decisively,” Rev. Beba said.

The Tiv Area Traditional Council has issued a 10-day ultimatum for all herders to vacate Tiv lands, declaring that continued occupation would be treated as a declaration of war.

The council emphasized that the Tiv people are not aggressors but will no longer watch helplessly as their communities are overrun.

In recent years, Benue State has been a hotspot in the farmer-herder crisis, with Yelwata and other border communities bearing the brunt of violent clashes. While the Benue State government under previous administrations enacted an anti-open grazing law to curb the conflict, enforcement remains a challenge in the face of well-armed militias and limited federal security support.

As the ultimatum counts down, the affected communities remain on high alert, with local youth groups mobilized to support traditional efforts in defending their land. The residents are also calling for more proactive measures from the federal government and the international community to avert further bloodshed.