General News
2025 Tiv Day was on 20th September
By Iorliam Shija
After a long period of dormancy, Mzough U Tiv has once again found its voice and courage to organize a Tiv Day. While I congratulate the Tor Tiv, the leadership of Mzough U Tiv, and Tiv people worldwide on this cultural revival, I cannot help but ask an uncomfortable but necessary question: why keep changing the date?
Would Christians be joyful if Christmas were suddenly shifted from 25th December to another day? Culture, like faith, derives its power from memory, continuity, and meaning. When dates are altered without historical justification, symbols are weakened and identity diluted.
On 6th August 2005, just three months and fourteen days before his death, His Excellency, Very Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu, former Governor of Benue State, delivered a lecture as Guest Speaker at a Tiv Day organized by the Community of Tiv Students (CTS) at Benue State University, now Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi. His topic was aptly titled “Introspection: Key to the Development of the Tiv Nation.”
Before delving into his paper, Fr. Adasu made a profound observation. He noted that such a glamorous and intellectually engaging Tiv Day, organized by students, mostly young people, ought to have been the responsibility of Mzough U Tiv. With visible regret, he lamented that Ijir Tamen and Mzough U Tiv institutions that once symbolized Tiv ontology, were effectively dead.
“I have lamented that Ijir Tamen and Mzough U Tiv, which symbolized Tiv ontology, are gone—and with them, the Tiv Nation. They must be resurrected,” Adasu declared.
He further advised that Tiv people at home and in the diaspora must come together to reclaim a collective forum where they could withdraw into themselves, rediscover who they are, and consciously recreate Tiv identity.
In recent years, the growing success of Tiv cultural platforms such as Kyegh Sha Shwa (KSS) and the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) and Mzough U Tiv UK (MUTUK) annual conventions appear to echo the same concerns raised by the late priest. These initiatives have reignited intellectual and cultural reflection among Tiv thinkers.
It is perhaps this mounting pressure that the current Tor Tiv, HRM Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, who marks nine years on the throne on 20th December, has responded to by organizing today’s event in Gboko. But the crucial question remains which is: was this event conceived with Tiv historical reality in mind?
According to Professor Mvendaga Jibo, a foremost scholar on politics and chieftaincy affairs, the process that led to the formation of Mzough U Tiv began on 6th April, 1985 during the 60th birthday celebration of the third Tor Tiv, HRH Orchivirigh James Akperan Orshi, at Tse Kur Baka in Buruku Local Government Area. It was there that the Tor Tiv publicly hinted at the need for a non-partisan Tiv forum.
When Orshi ascended the throne on 10th March, 1979, he inherited a deeply fractured Tiv society still reeling from the aftershocks of the “Nande-Nande” and “Atem Ityough” crises, compounded by the bitterness of the 1979 and later the 1983 gubernatorial elections. While politicians counted victories, the Tor Tiv perceived something far more dangerous, the gradual erosion of Tiv unity and identity, which needed to be reversed.
Thus, at his 60th birthday, he pleaded with his people to fashion a neutral forum to heal Tivland. He even offered a symbolic reward of ₦1,000 to anyone willing to bring Tiv sons and daughters together. That appeal resonated. Meetings followed, delegates were selected, and by 1st June 1985, Mzough U Tiv was formally born during an Ijir Tamen session.
Its objectives were lofty and rooted in unity, peace, cultural preservation, language development, traditional institutions, and socio-economic advancement. Yet, nearly four decades later, one must ask honestly whether Mzough U Tiv has lived up to these ideals.
The body’s failure, sadly, mirrors the very divisions it was created to heal. From its inception, partisan rifts, partic
By Saint Mugaga
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu as the Managing Director of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja.
The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) is responsible for conducting research and development in technology and for operating a nuclear research facility.
A statement by the Special Adviser (Information and Strategy) to the President, Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu also appointed Engr. Adesayo Olusegun Michael as the Managing Director/CEO of the Board of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
Other Board members of NEMSA appointed by the President include: Engr. Aliyu Abdulazeez (Executive Director, Technical); Ikechi Clara Nwosu (Chairman, South East); Zubair Abdur’rauf Idris (Member); Igba Elizabeth (Member-North Central); Sani Alhaji Shehu (Member–North East); Adeyemi Adetunji (Member–South West); Engr Emmanuel Eneji Nkpe (Member–South South) and Engr. Charles Ogbonna Asogwa (South East).
The President nominated Amina Gamawa, representing Bauchi, and Abdullahi Muktar, representing Kaduna, as Commissioners to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The President has sent the two nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
By Our Correspondent
At least 102 Tiv Christians have been feared killed with dozens of churches burnt in 33 days in Taraba state.
According to Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA), the killers, suspected to be militia Fulani men, have committed the crimes between 2nd January to 3rd February 2026 in Chanchanji ward, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba state.
NOCRELA also disclosed that the body has interacted with the Tiv community and the affected NKST pastors extensively when they were told that the killings were perpetrated by Fulani militia and were specifically targeting the Tiv community and NKST churches.
In a submission, the Taraba State Chairman, NOCRELA, Rev. Dr. Micah Dopah, on Monday condemned the continuous, horrific, brutal, and targeted killing of the Tiv Christians brethren and their properties.
“Within an interval of 33 days only from 2nd January 2026 to 3rd February 2026, the militia killed at least 102 people and injured over 31 as analyzed by the local authorities.
“The local authorities also complained that the government and security agencies have not done enough to protect their lives, houses, and churches. stating that the laxity of the government in defending their people and properties has encouraged the militia to perpetrate the satanic killings.
“Ten murderous attacks in 33 days is horrific. Where is the government? And where are the security agencies?
“We interacted with the Tiv community and the affected NKST pastors extensively. They told us that these killings were perpetrated by Fulani militia, and are specifically targeted at the Tiv community and NKST churches.
Relatedly, similar attacks are going on in Benue state by suspected Fulani against the Tiv settlements in Kwande local government where whole communities have been sacked with many indigenous people killed.
Anwase and Abande, among other villages, have been deserted and there is great apprehension that they would be occupied by the invading Fulani militias whose aim to seize Tiv lands and occupy them is no longer new as the case of Moon.
The invasion is partly to take over the lands now known to be rich in gold and other minerals.
By Our Correspondent
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has been asked to dismiss the ₦100.5 billion defamation suit instituted against Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu, VC of University of Mkar, Mkar by the Nasarawa State Government and Governor, Abdullahi Sule.
The request is contained in a notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendant through his legal team led by Sebastian Hon, SAN.
Gundu flawed the competence of the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/3554/2025, and asked the court to decline jurisdiction, describing the case as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
The legal team said the claimants did not comply with a mandatory condition precedent required for the validity of the originating processes, as stipulated under Order 2 Rule 8 of the FCT High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2025.
This faulty premise, the alleged non-compliance, the team asserted, renders the suit procedurally defective and liable to be struck out.
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