Group warns of imminent food shortage in Benue

The umbrella body of Tiv people worldwide known as Mdzough U Tiv (MUT) has warned of imminent food shortage unless positive steps are urgently taken to quell fresh killings in Benue State.

The body said that the warning became imperative because residents of the state were largely farmers who could no longer access their farms following the worsening insecurity in the land.

President General of Mdzough U Tiv, CP Iorbee Ihagh, (rtd) who made the remark at a press conference in Makurdi, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to act urgently in the interest of farmers and Nigeria at large.

He said the renewed insecurity within the past three weeks caused nearly 100 peoples’ death in different parts of Benue State alone, stressing that owing to the insecurity, farmers could no longer return to their farms even at this onset of rainy season.

“Let me advise President Buhari; if he wants Nigeria to survive, he better takes action now. If he wants Nigeria to remain one, he better takes care of this problem (insecurity) now.

“In the last three weeks, we have recorded close to 100 deaths of our brothers, sisters and loved ones who were brutally murdered in bizarre circumstances by armed herdsmen,” he said.

Ihagh pointed out that Benue witnessed relative peace after the 2018 new year massive killings allegedly occasioned by haters of the state’s prohibition of open grazing law which the people have vowed never to repeal, but noted that the attackers have returned with the spate of unprovoked killings witnessed in the past few weeks.