NEWSROYALE Benue killings: How Tor-Tiv is sparing no efforts for lasting peace
Playing the role of a counselor, the TorTiv, His Royal Majesty Professor James Ayatse, has taken the lead in consoling his subjects and maintaining the peace against the backdrop of recent killings in Benue State.
From Hope Abah, Makurdi
Undoubtedly, the killing of over 73 people in Benue State at the wake of New Year had raised serious concern among in the state and the country.
The killings took place in communities of Guma and Logo, two Tiv-speaking local government areas.
Since, the tragic incident occurred, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, His Royal Majesty, the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse and his chiefs have been mourning the death of their subjects under the command of the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC).
Despite the sorrows, the bereaved monarch has not left any stone unturned in reaching to all facets of the society to douse the tension over the crisis as he continuously prevailed over his subjects to maintain peace, law and order no matter the provocation.
One of such effort had been his spiritual approach to the matter by resorting to prayers for absolute peace and quietness in his domain through regular convocation of interdenominational prayers at specific locations to seek for God’s intervention on Tivland.
The latest in the series of such prayer meetings was held on Saturday, January 13, at the IBB Square, Makurdi, where the royal father as usual led the congregation to offer prayers to the Almighty for his divine interference to end killings in the land.
Although, the Chief Press Secretary to the monarch, Godwin Ber, explained that the paramount ruler instituted the prayer meetings since last year before the recent attacks on his subjects, the intercession had been intensified in the face of current challenges.
“His Royal Majesty is a committed Christian. The first prayer meeting which the Tor Tiv organised took place in Sankera, Ukum Local Government Area. It involved all Christian denomination. Prayers were also held in Kastina-Ala and Vandekiya. It was held in Makurdi and it would be rounded up in Gboko by January 27,” Ber said.
It was gathered that the Tor Tiv, a Professor of Biochemistry and a pastor in the Deeper Life Church before his ascension to the throne on March 4, 2017, has consistently called together Christians irrespective of their denomination to pray for the state and his domain in particular as part of efforts to ensure peace.
There were also fasting and prayers, which rotates within the five Tiv blocs of Jembga, Jechira, Minda, Sankera and Kwande that made up the two major clusters in Tiv land which are the Ipusu and Ichongo- the two sons of their progenitor.
Besides, the recent trip alongside other elders of the state led by Governor Samuel Ortom to Aso Villa, Abuja in order to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the plights of its citizens, Ayatse has said that his traditional council would not be happy if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to visit Benue State in order to ascertain things for himself.
Ayatse who made the remark in an interview with newsmen at his temporary palace in Gboko, said though he appreciated the
The monarch added that he was not satisfied with the federal government’s effort so far. “If they [security forces] were adequate, the killings would have stopped by now. I’m happy the President has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to relocate to Benue. We are trusting that with the coming of the IGP, we will see more seriousness in policing. If they stop killing my people, then, I will know the seriousness of the security effort,” the Tor Tiv posited.
He added that his traditional council right from the day the bitter incident happened had been mourning.
To stem the reoccurring tide, the monarch disclosed that measures are in the offing to reorganise the settlement pattern of the Tiv people into cluster instead of scattered communities which make them vulnerable to attacks.
“In terms of the settlement pattern and how it has made us vulnerable to this attacks, the TATC has actually set up a committee and we are waiting for a report on how to advise our subjects to be able to settle together in clusters so that will reduce incidences of attacks.
“It is common sense that if they stay together, they will be better prepared to defend themselves. But farmers in my domain settle as close to their farm lands as possible. That has been the pattern but I think with what is happening now, we will advise them to change their settlement pattern so that we live in clusters. It will create a double advantage of better security efforts of the President who had and making the land available for sent a representation, it was also mechanisation,” he stressed. imperative for himself to come The royal father who doubles down. as Chairman of the Benue State
“This state massively voted to Council of Traditional Rulers has bring him (Buhari) to office. So at also continued to rub minds with this time when we are in sorrow, all sectors of the society especially we need his comfort. Mr President the youths of his domain to douse hasn’t come but we are expecting tension, and to ensure there are no him. reprisal attacks, following countless
“His visit will speak volumes of meetings with different groups as because there is a difference well as using his council to reaching between coming yourself and out to all nooks and crannies of the sending a representation. If he state with a message of peace. doesn’t come at all, we will not be Moreover, as a member of the happy,” he said. Council of Northern Traditional
The royal father clad in a Tiv Rulers, the royal father had not attire with another strapped around been silent as he disclosed that the his waist to depict his mourning herders/farmers crises came up mood just as everyone around the during the last general assembly of palace appeared solemn following the council. the current killings said he was Ayatse said “it was discussed yet to understand the unprovoked and the council set up a committee attack on his domain. to study the situation and make
He maintained that the federal recommendations on the best government needed to deploy more way to solve the problem. The force to stop the killings in parts of committee is yet to submit the the state, stressing that the attack report and therefore I will not have appeared to be coordinated. a definite statement of what the
Ayatse who noted that nearly Northern Traditional Rulers have every family in Tiv nation sacrificed said or done. But I know that on one or two persons during the individual basis, many of them have Nigerian Civil War just to keep the been involved in trying to mediate country united, regretted that such to make sure we get to the path of fate could befall his people. peace where there are crises.” The monarch added that he was not satisfied with
the federal government’s effort so far. “If they [security forces] were adequate, the killings would
have stopped by now. I’m happy the President has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to
relocate to Benue