Nasarawa Land Dispute: Tivs Are Aggressors, Alago Group Alleges

The Alago Ikweyi Gbayi Development Union in Nasarawa State has accused Tivs of being behind the attacks that resulted in the recent death of some persons in Keana local government area of Nasarawa State.

The president of the union, Mr. Mohammed Oshafu, told journalists in Lafia yesterday that Tiv youths had been launching coordinated attacks on the Alagos since the incident at Bakin Kotar, a community at the border between Keana LGA of Nasarawa State and Guma LGA of Benue State by persons suspected to Tivs which resulted in the death of two Alago youths.

The group’s position followed a press conference on Thursday by the Tiv Youths Organisation (TYO) alleging fresh attacks by persons suspected to be of Alago extraction on communities in the local government area.

TYO had said two persons were allegedly killed in a recent onslaught against two Tiv communities in the area.

It said the attack on Adaga, a Tiv community on July 16, destroyed properties and displacement of many natives, while a similar offensive at Obosidoma, another Tiv community on July 20 led to the death of two persons.

However, the Alago group said yesterday that no such attacks were carried out by their people, alleging that the Tivs were rather the aggressors.

“They killed three of our graduates on the farm; they have been chasing our people from their farmlands and taking them over. Despite that they will embark on campaign of calumny against the Alagos,” the union’s president said.

He said his people are peace-loving and had been leaving peacefully with people of all tribes without any conflict.

“We have been appealing to our people to remain calm in the face of these provocative attacks, while we await the state government to do the needful,” he said.

He added that the land in question is not close to the border between Nasarawa and Benue, noting that it is in Keana.

“Keana, nestled as a border town, has always welcomed diverse people – Fulani from various places across Niagara, Tiv from various places of Benue State, and other tribes from Plateau State. Our peaceful coexistence has been a hallmark of Alago people’s nature, accommodating those seeking solace and livelihood on our land.

“We, therefore, call on the Nasarawa State government and the public to see through Tiv’s propaganda and orchestrated plans to take over our ancestral land. How on earth will a settler like to turn to be the owner of the land,” Mr. Oshafu added.