The Tiv community in Nasarawa State has refuted claims by the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, in the state that some Tiv farmers from Nasarawa State attacked and killed four herdsmen in Kadarko area of the state.
The leadership of MACBAN had in a media report, published by some national dailies, alleged that some Tiv farmers from Kadarko, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, connived with their counterparts from Benue State to kill some herdsmen and rustled their cows in the area.
But the leadership of Tiv community in the state, yesterday debunked the allegation, stating that no Tiv person from Nasarawa State was involved in the clashes between some herdsmen and farmers at the border areas of Benue and Nasarawa states.
The Tiv leadership in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Boniface Ifer, President Tiv Development Association and Comrade Peter Ahemba, the President, Tiv Youth Organisation in the state, said findings by the Tiv leadership revealed that the said clashes originated from Angwan Ayaba village in Yelwata area of the neighbouring Benue State and not from Nasarawa State as being alleged.
They said, “From our findings, the Fulani herdsmen had disagreement in the farm with a woman around Angwan Ayaba of Yelwata in the neighboiring Benue State, which resulted to a bloody clash.
“The area where the trouble all started and the people involved are farmers from Benue State; so it is wrong for anybody to link the Tiv people of Kadarko and Nasarawa State in general to the incident.”
The Tiv leaders described the allegation of Tiv’s involvement in the clashes as a deliberate and calculated attempt to destabilise the community and force them out of their ancestral homes.
They added, “Each time the Fulanis have issues with Benue people, they come and attack us in Nasarawa. We are citizens of Nasarawa State and not Benue State, this is a fact the herdsmen must appreciate and stop attacking us whenever they have issues with the Benue people.
“This allegation that the Tiv people of Kadarko attacked and killed some herdsmen is clearly a case of given a dog a bad name in order to hang it.”
The statement therefore commended the state government, security agencies and the traditional institution, including other stakeholders for their relentless efforts towards ensuring the restoration of calm in the area.
