Tiv Group Rejects Alago’s Claim To Yelwata Land

The OnTiv Professionals Association Abuja (OPA) has condemned as insensitive and misleading the statement by the Alago Ikweyi Gbayi Development Union (AIGDU), which called for the demarcation of Tiv ancestral lands around the Nasarawa–Benue boundary, following the recent massacre of Benue citizens in Yelwata.

OPA president, Engr. Abraham Aku, in a statement in Abuja, expressed dismay that while the Benue community and the nation were still mourning the victims of the June 13 Yelwata attack by armed Fulani invaders, the Alago group was focused on staking a territorial claim over the grief-stricken community.

“We read with deep concern the press release by AIGDU, which was a reaction to remarks made by the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Ayatse, during President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Benue State. The statement is riddled with misrepresentations and historical inaccuracies aimed at distorting the identity and heritage of the Tiv people in and around Yelwata,” Aku said.

He emphasised that Yelwata is located in the Guma local government area of Benue State, both administratively and in governance practice.

He described the AIGDU claim that Yelwata belongs to Keana LGA in Nasarawa State as “historically and administratively incorrect.”

“For decades, the Benue State Government has been responsible for infrastructure, elections, and civil administration in Yelwata,” he added.

Aku also refuted the narrative that Tiv people are “latecomers” to Yelwata, noting that Tiv settlements across the Benue Valley, including Yelwata, predate Nigeria’s modern administrative boundaries.

“The Tiv are not just residents but ancestral occupants of the land, having cultivated and developed it over generations. They are also indigenous to parts of Nasarawa State — including Awe, Obi, Doma, Keana, and Lafia LGAs.”

He described the AIGDU’s argument — that Yelwata is an “Alago village” based on the presence of a few Alago or Gwandara people — as weak and divisive.

“In a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria, claims of ownership must rest on historical facts, legal jurisdiction, and the will of the people — all of which affirm Yelwata’s place in Benue State.”

On the use of Google Maps to support AIGDU’s claim, Aku said: “Google Maps is not a legal authority for boundary demarcation. Only the National Boundary Commission, official gazettes, and constitutional instruments hold that legitimacy — and none of them place Yelwata in Nasarawa State.”

He urged AIGDU to prioritize peaceful coexistence and to stop attempts at inflaming ethnic tensions or rewriting geographical facts.

The group called on the governments of Nasarawa and Benue states, the National Boundary Commission, and the Federal Government to resolve all boundary disputes fairly and transparently. It also reaffirmed support for the Tor Tiv’s position, describing it as factual, dignified, and reflective of the Tiv people’s pain.

“Let the truth be told and peace be pursued,” Aku concluded.