Indigenous Tiv communities in Nasarawa State have sounded an alarm over what they describe as blatant violations of a standing court order and reports of a new government-backed land acquisition targeting their villages.
Alleged Defiance of Court Directive
The heart of the conflict is Suit No. NSD/LF44/2025, which is currently before the Nasarawa State High Court in Lafia. The case involves representatives of the Tiv people and the Nasarawa State Government, among other parties.
On May 27, 2025, the High Court issued an order instructing all involved to maintain the status quo until the suit is resolved. However, the legal counsel for the Tiv communities, Mr. Terkaa Aondo, SAN, has raised serious allegations.
He claims that the Governor of Nasarawa State has continued acts of trespass on the contested land. These acts reportedly include farming activities for private use, which Aondo states are in direct defiance of the court's directive.
Pending Appeal and Fresh Land Acquisition Fears
Mr. Aondo emphasized that the situation is further complicated by an ongoing interlocutory appeal. This appeal, registered as Appeal No. CA/MK/222/2025, is pending before the Court of Appeal's Makurdi Judicial Division.
The appeal challenges a ruling from the trial court. Aondo maintains that with this appeal duly entered, any further actions affecting the land in dispute risk making the appeal pointless and undermining judicial authority.
Simultaneously, a new wave of anxiety has hit Tiv settlements. Reports indicate that the Nasarawa State Government has released a fresh acquisition map. This map allegedly earmarks land across more than ten Tiv villages in Doka District of Doma Local Government for forceful takeover.
The affected villages reportedly include:
- Doga
- Gbatar
- Igbawua
- Kwaghitse
- Uta
- Tsekele
- Ugee
- Age
- Angbo
- Tsehuee
- Ugor
- Kaatuna
Calls for Restraint and Potential Consequences
Community leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the reported new acquisition as alarming. They see it as an expansion of land appropriation efforts while the original dispute remains unresolved in court.
The communities are now calling on the state government to:
- Respect the existing court order.
- Halt all activities on the disputed lands.
- Refrain from any new acquisitions until the courts give a final determination.
They warn that avoidable actions could escalate local tensions and lead to the further disenfranchisement of indigenous communities. As of the time of reporting, official responses from the Nasarawa State Government regarding the alleged breach of the court order and the reported new acquisition map were not immediately available.
