Sultan urges stop to Tiv/Fulani feud in Benue
Sultan of Sokoto and chairman, Board of Trustees of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, is becoming increasing uncomfortable with the continuous fighting between Tivs and Fulani herdsmen in Benue State and has demanded an immediate stop to it.
Eight people were reported killed early Tuesday in the state after a series of such incidents in recent past. The sultan yesterday in a statement signed by the Protem National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Sale Bayari, condemned the unnecessary shedding of human blood on both sides and the mass displacement of people and animals of both farmers and herdsmen in the state within the last three months and appealed to them to give him more time to act on the problem.
“The sultan called on both Tiv and Fulani herdsmen of Benue State to stop the fight and hostilities immediately. He is particularly worried about the escalation of the feud which has led to the burning down of Tukura village, the home of the Tor Tiv and his personal house. The sultan also expressed sadness over continued hostilities between the Fulani and their ‘cousins’, the Tiv which have led to destruction of homes, livestock and farm produce among other valuables”, the statement said as it reminded the Fulani of the meeting with the sultan in his palace in Kaduna on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 where he appealed to them to give him more time to contact the necessary authorities to address the problem, saying he was still trying to find a lasting solution to the persistent crisis.
He appealed for calm and a ceasefire to allow dialogue, reconciliation and return of normalcy in the affected areas. The sultan called on security agencies to intensify efforts in the protection of lives and property of both groups and commiserated with the Tor Tiv over his burnt house, village and the displaced people. He also sympathized with the herdsmen over the loss of their cattle and traditional grazing areas in the state.