The Tiv Area Traditional Counci(TATC) has directed herders to vacate the Tiv lands within 10 days.
TATC during an emergency meeting held Tuesday at the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko said all herders in the Kingdom must vacate all Tiv lands before the end of May 2025, to allow farmers return and cultivate their farms.
The Council explained that the action has become necessary to avoid the looming hunger in Nigeria.
Consequently, the TATC requested that the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia should create enabling environment to give the herders peaceful exit of the Tiv Kingdom.
A statement released and signed by the Secretary, Tiv Area Traditional Council, Mr Shinyi Tyozua also stated that the traditional council directed both political and traditional rulers in each local government area of Tiv Kingdom to peacefully engage the herders to comply with the directive.
According to the release, the Council which was chaired by the Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, CFR, deliberated particularly on the security situation in Tiv Kingdom citing communities worst affected to include those of Kwande, Katsina Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West Gwer East and Buruku Local Government Areas.
The Council lamented that farming activities in the kingdom have ceased due to the occupation of farmlands by herders for grazing, attacks and killings which has caused farmers to flee from the lands.
They stressed that if the situation continues it will ultimately result to hunger in Tiv Kingdom and Nigeria as a whole.
