Benue killings: Tiv group warns on reprisals

An America-based group, Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA), has condemned the “attacks on innocent Nigerians and the wanton destruction of lives and property by marauding terrorists and mercenaries in any guise,” and called for a stop.

It also warned that if the federal government could not defend the Tiv people from the herdsmen “we will be forced to mobilise the people to defend themselves.”
A statement issued by its President and Secretary, Mr Joseph Unongo and David Agum, respectively, therefore, called on the federal government to live up to its responsibility of protecting innocent citizens from rampaging mercenaries.

The statement said: “It is simply unacceptable that our people should become refugees (internally displaced persons) in their own land.
“It is with a deep sense of grief and total disgust that we, the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA), a registered association of the sons and daughters of Tiv in the

Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico), a tax-exempt, non-profit, non-partisan charitable organisation committed to promoting and supporting Tiv communities and others both in Nigeria and around the world, strongly condemn the orchestrated attacks and killings of our people in parts of Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states by Fulani herdsmen and mercenaries.

“The most recent, well-coordinated attacks and devastation of Tiv communities in Makurdi, Guma, Gwer, Gwer-West, Kwande, Logo, and Katsina-Ala local government councils of Benue state are suggestive of a deeper plan than meets the eye.

“We warn the perpetrators and their sponsors to think twice-it won’t be that easy. Indeed, as Tiv sons and daughters in the Diaspora, we cannot fold our arms and remain mute as our communities at home are being ravaged and our people being killed, maimed, and rendered homeless by the Fulani and their cohorts.”