By Sar Terver
The North Central region of Nigeria is witnessing a growing crisis, with tensions escalating between Communities over land rights and resource allocation draws backlash in Nasarawa State.
Worried by the deafening roar, Advocacy groups and Community leaders are demanding immediate attention from both the Nasarawa State government and federal authorities to address longstanding grievances that fuel ongoing conflict.
At a recent Press conference, Ibrahim Addra, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, responded to allegations made by Prof. Zachary Anger Gundu, the former Pro Chancellor of Benue State University.
In a viral video, Gundu accused Governor Sule of complicity in violence and accused him of orchestrating land seizures affecting the Tiv people of Nasarawa State.
Addra vehemently condemned the accusations as baseless, asserting that Governor Sule has consistently advocated for peace and empathy towards victims of violence in neighbouring Benue State.
“Governor Sule is pained by the killings in Benue State,” Addra stated, expressing disappointment that influential figures would choose inflammatory rhetoric rather than work constructively to alleviate security challenges.
The Press Secretary’s remarks signal the administration’s frustration with perceived political opportunism amidst a humanitarian crisis.
He challenged Gundu to provide concrete evidence for his claims, emphasising that the governor has never sanctioned land grabs or violence against any Community in Nasarawa.
Individuals caught in a vortex of self-help and local advocates whose livelihoods may have been impacted, however, insist that mere rebuttals are not enough because they do not to be left behind when the drama gets sail in court.
They are calling for accountability, urging the government to prioritise justice for marginalised Communities over political expediency.
Gundu has echoed these sentiments, arguing that “words alone are not enough” and highlighting the need for the judicial system to investigate such allegations.
As disputes over land ownership intensify, the fear of further escalation of violence looms large. Community leaders have voiced concerns that failing to address these tensions could compromise local governance, sparking inter-communal clashes and deepening divisions among ethnic groups.
In recent gatherings held by Civil society organisations, there has been a resounding call for inclusive dialogue that has hit a snag.
Activists stress the importance of involving affected communities in decision-making processes that impact their lives.
“For lasting peace, the voices of those impacted must be heard and considered,” one local activist remarked passionately.
Besides, residents and observers watching closely as the government is urged to respond effectively to the escalating crisis.
Advocacy groups are emphasising the need for swift and decisive action to address the chronic issues that have been simmering in the region for years.
The complex interplay of governance, land rights, and ethnic justice will require thoughtful and comprehensive approaches from both local and federal entities over the public outrage spill into the street.
Many fear that without intervention, the stability of the North Central region hangs in the balance, with the potential to spiral into deeper unrest.
As the dialogue continues among leaders, citizens, and advocacy groups alike, there remains a glimmer of hope.
A unified effort can pave the way to peace and healing, but it requires concerted action from all Stakeholders involved in this delicate situation.
The road ahead is fraught with challenges, yet the call for justice and accountability resonates strongly in the hearts of those yearning for lasting change.
The Community’s resolve and determination will be essential in shaping the future of Nasarawa State and the broader North Central region.
The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, as escalating tensions demand immediate and meaningful responses to foster peace and security among all Communities involved.
In a video from a recent town hall security meeting between Nasarawa State stakeholders and those in Benue State, Prof. Zakarys Anger Gundu, the Vice Chancellor of Mkar University and leader of Tiv Professionals Group, said:
“I am not speaking as Vice Chancellor, I am speaking as a citizen, Nigeria and somebody who represents a group, the Tiv professional’s group.
“I just hope the Miyetti person who spoke is here, the person, lower Benue has run away and that is what they do with us.
“They tell us what they want and then they run, they don’t hear us. But let me say one thing clearly. Miyetti Allah Breeders Association are not breeding any cattle in this Country.
“All the Cattle, majority of them, that we see up and down this country come from Pokistum market in Yobe.
“They buy them and they take them across the country, once they finish selling, they go back. So no person is breeding any cattle in this country. If they were breeding, they would have known that it is better, it’s healthier to breed cattle on a ranch. They would have known that.
“But there is another thing which we must also appreciate. This is the fact that the current crisis, even though you can trace it to the killing of a small Fulani person, going about with cattle, it is actually not right to trace it to that point.
“Because this problem has been happening here for more than 10 years and I want us to not forget the fact that this is not just a Benue problem.
“Today, the Fulanis are in Bayelsa and they are grazing by force, today, the Fulanis are in Rivers State and they are grazing by force.
“So we who are Nigerians and who want to stand our ground as citizens of this Country must appreciate the fact that we are not dealing with a local problem, we are dealing with a bigger problem.
“The issue of Nasarawa state has come up and we know that even during Almakura’s time, Fulanis were coming there and attacking Benue State and Almakura would call them international hunters.
“In spite of the fact that Nasarawa State does not have any international hunting grounds, he would call them because he wanted to mask that.
And even today, the governor of Nasarawa State, Sule, is also masking the problem.
“Those of you who are in Nasarawa State, we know that ancestral lands belonging particularly to the Tiv people in Awe, in Doma, in Keana, in Lafia, and in Obi have been taken over and given to these Fulani people. Are the Fulani people coming outside the Country?”, he queried.
Continuing, he said, “Now, no other person in his right senses will ever deny that the Fulanis who are pushing and attacking us are coming from outside the Country.
“It is people like Sule, the governor of Nasarawa State who is giving them haven, who is giving them refuge, who is getting the lives of his own citizens and giving it to these people.
“The person from lower Benue talked about climate change. Let us be clear on one thing. The people who are coming as a result of climate change and pushing us aren’t and they are not from this Country.
As citizens of this country, if we never resist when our governors and our politicians push us away from our lands and give it to foreigners, we will be making the greatest mistake of our lives.
“The Nigerian who is a Citizen has more rights to the land of this country and the resources than somebody who is coming from outside this country, no matter what is just in that person.
“What do I want us to do? First, I want us to note that our politicians in the different parts of the state, including this state, have sold us. You are standing here, sitting here, we are literally being sold.
“Unless we realize that we have been sold, there is nothing we can do. Lastly and most lastly, our governor has said he does not want self-defense, but he cannot defend us. If you listen to him, you are a dead man. If you don’t die today, you will die tomorrow”, he enthused.
As the controversy deepens, stakeholders across both Benue and Nasarawa States are urging for calm, dialogue, and a fact-based investigation into the issues raised.
While Prof. Gundu’s statements have stirred emotions and brought long-held grievances to the surface, the response from the Nasarawa State government shows an equally strong desire to protect its image and maintain stability.
In the midst of the war of words, what remains clear is the need for credible, independent engagement to ascertain the facts and restore public confidence.
The affected communities, Civil society actors, and state institutions all have a role to play in ensuring that the pursuit of truth and justice does not become another casualty in the region’s search for peace.
Only through open engagement, mutual respect, and a commitment to inclusive governance can the North Central region begin to address its historical wounds and move toward sustainable peace.
