Tiv Communities Under Siege as Military Officer Urges Swift Government Action
A senior military officer has issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly of Nigeria, calling for immediate intervention to address the deteriorating security situation in Tiv communities located in southern Taraba and parts of Benue State. This plea comes in response to a recent surge of violent attacks that have devastated numerous areas, with residents reporting extensive damage to homes, farmlands, and harvested crops.
Coordinated Attacks Force Residents to Flee
The officer, who originates from Mbajir in the Shitile area, detailed that his village and neighboring communities across three local government areas in southern Taraba, as well as Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, have been subjected to sustained assaults over the past two weeks. According to his account, these coordinated attacks have compelled residents to abandon their homes due to a lack of adequate means for self-defence against heavily armed assailants.
Investigations conducted on Wednesday night uncovered a tragic development: two of his stepbrothers, who had returned to assess their ancestral home, were ambushed and killed by the attackers. "Since the people were aware of the invasion and had to flee their homes due to lack of any form of self-defence, only houses, farms and harvested crops were destroyed. It is now more disturbing that two of my stepbrothers decided to return to see their homeland and were unfortunately ambushed and killed by the marauders," he explained.
Appeal for Peace and Humanitarian Concerns
In his appeal, the officer emphasized the need for swift and decisive action from authorities, while also calling for prayers to restore peace in the affected communities. He noted that residents are currently living in fear following the widespread destruction of property and loss of lives. "Please, let us pray for peace in Tiv land; otherwise, we are witnessing a gradual extermination," he added.
He further warned that failure to act promptly could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, as recurring attacks continue to displace communities and disrupt livelihoods in the region. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in addressing communal conflicts and ensuring public safety in these areas.
