Benue group calls for overhaul of Nigeria security architecture

A group known as Tiv Youth Organization, TYO has called for the overall overhaul of the security architecture of the nation to accommodate other nationalities in Nigeria.

Making the call on Monday at the state secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Makurdi, the president general of the group, Mr Timothy Hembaor said that overhauling if the nation’s security apparatus would help the security of the country.

Hembar urged the federal government to direct troops of exercise Ayem A’ Kpatema to adhere to professional conduct and halt the daily attacks, wanton killings and maiming of innocent, harmless, defenceless and law-abiding Tiv people of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.

The group decried the failure of federal government to arrest and prosecute leaders of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and their sponsors despite cries from people of the state.

The group said it is preposterous that the Fulani are laying claim to the original inhabitants of the Benue Valley, pointing out that the narrative has not been supported by any historical account.

“The Tiv people are entitled to statutory rights over the lands of the Benue Trough where they have lawfully dwelt and earned a living from these past three (3) centuries and have been so recognized by law.

“The Tiv people will resist with all means at their disposal, the confiscation of our land and transmutation of same into grazing areas for the Fulani and their cattle. In essence, the Tiv people are saying, ‘No To Grazing Areas of whatever sort in Tiv land.

“We, therefore, call on President Buhari to respect his oath of office and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, both in content and spirit and sincerely intervene now and halt the killing of the Tiv people of Nigeria by his kinsmen. Failure to do so, the Tiv people are capable of defending themselves against any occupation of our ancestral dwellings.

“We shall never succumb to the threats of Miyetti Allah neither cede any of our lands for cattle colonies which is a disguise to get a foothold on our land”, Hembar vowed.