The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse on Wednesday told visiting President Bola Tinubu that the killings in Benue State are not clashes between herders and farmers but a planned attack aimed at taking over land.
Tinubu had, in his earlier reaction to the killing of over 200 people in Benue communities in attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen, asked the Benue governor, Hyacinth Alia to summon reconciliation meeting with stakeholders.
However, speaking at a meeting with Tinubu and stakeholders in Makurdi, the traditional ruler said many people had misunderstood the crisis and wrongly advised Benue citizens to stay calm and live peacefully with their neighbours.
Ayatse said, “We do have grave concerns about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State.
“Your Excellency, it is not herders-farmers clashes. It is not communal clashes. It is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes.
“It is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits that has lasted for decades.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment… We are dealing with something far more sinister than we think. It is not about learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with a war.”
Tor Tiv to Tinubu: Benue killings not herders-farmers clashes, not communal clashes, it is a well-planned genocidal invasion
