The Tiv people in Nasarawa State have called for a ‘remedy’ over the alleged takeover of 10,000 agricultural hectares of their ancestral lands by the state government.
The demand is contained in a letter by the Tiv Indigenes of Obi/Awe Local Government and addressed to Governor Abdullahi Sule and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
Signed by their lawyer, Jerry Aondo of the T.J. Aondo & Co. law firm, the letter comes after the state government announced via its website, that work had commenced in the area in line with the Federal Government’s food security initiatives.
According to the announcement on the State Government’s website, “His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule inspects a section of 10,000 hectares of the Nasarawa State Government farm in line with the Federal Government’s Food Security Initiatives. The farm in Jangwa, Awe LGA is suitable for rice and maize farming.
“Work has started in earnest to take advantage of the rainy season.”
In the appeal letter, Aondo pointed out that the development is taking place without remedy and an alternative source of survival for the dwellers of the land in dispute.
He appealed to the Governor that the plan to forcibly acquire land in the Tiv Villages comprising Akaha, Utsuwa, Usula, Udugh, Ayarkeke, China, Ikyorchiha and Shankodi villages “without a piece of legislation and memorandum designed for the public acquisition and common good of the Tiv people and the public at large will lead to the extinction of the people’s means of livelihood and permanent displacement.”
The law firm drew the attention of government to the insecurity and communal crisis the move might result to if its request is not urgently addressed.
“We wish to place on record that, the 10,000 (Ten Thousand) ancestral hectares of land marked to be taken from the Tiv indigenes by the Government of Nasarawa State, using the instrumentality of various traditional rulers/village heads to acquire these lands forcefully for agricultural purposes, is meant to displace our people without remedy.
“We believe if the Government requires our people to surrender their private rights for the common goal of all, same would be done through a memorandum of public consultation with the people in the various villages affected,” the letter read.
The law firm further stated in the letter that 60 per cent of agricultural produce cultivated and sold in neighbouring villages and markets in Nasarawa State is majorly produced by the Tiv indigenes.
“The Tiv indigenes of Nasarawa State have strong confidence in the ability, resolve, desire and willingness of your person and Government to put a stop to this show of power against its people,” the letter partly reads, and was copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
