General News
We are Massacred in Nasarawa, Again, Tiv Farmers Raise Alarm
BY OUR REPORTER
An alarm has once more been raised by the Tiv farmers of Nasarawa State over what they describe as a calculated massacre of the race accompanied by cover up by the government of the state.
Raising the alarm is the United Farmers’ Association Kadarko (UFAK) with the allegation of mass killings, sustained persecution of Tiv farmers, and large-scale displacement in Nasarawa State. While all these are going on, the government has embarked on a policy of suppressing investigations into violent attacks on Tiv communities across several local government areas of the state, UFUK alleged.
UFUK’s allegations were contained in a detailed petition presented to the Tiv Traditional Area Council, Mdzough u Tiv (MUT), and other Tiv socio-cultural and professional bodies at the 2025 Tiv Day celebration held on December 13 in Gboko, Benue State.
The petition was publicly read at a lecture organised at the University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State, as part of the Tiv Day commemorative events.
In the petition signed by its Chairman, Chief Dennis Denen Gbongbon, and Secretary, Mr Ayuba T. Bako, the association alleged that no fewer than 394 Tiv farmers were massacred in Keana Local Government Area in June 2024. It claimed also that the victims were officially declared missing by the police and the Keana Local Government authorities, while their bodies were deliberately hidden from their families.
UFAK demanded the immediate recovery of the alleged missing corpses to enable proper burial rites in accordance with Tiv culture and tradition, warning that continued denial of burial could further inflame tensions and threaten peaceful coexistence.
The farmers’ group also accused the Nasarawa State Government and security agencies of failing to act despite what it referred to as repeated alerts on the locations of terror camps and their leaders operating in parts of Keana, Doma and other areas of southern Nasarawa, including Kadarko, Giza, Rukubi and Agyaragu.
According to the association, the continued inaction of government institutions had worsened insecurity and prolonged the sufferings of Tiv communities affected by years of violent attacks. It appealed to the Tiv Traditional Area Council and MUT to urgently intervene to ensure justice for the victims.
UFAK further decried the humanitarian condition of displaced Tiv farmers, claiming that about 652,260 persons were currently displaced, including over 14,000 from communities such as Kadarko, Giza, Dooshima, Antsa, Sule-Alo, Kpalev, Ajimaka Obosidoma, Keana, Doma, Obi and Awe. It said many of the displaced persons were living in internally displaced persons’ camps in Makurdi and other locations.
The association called on the Nasarawa State Government to take the responsibility to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes, reunite them with their families, provide relief materials and guarantee their security.
It also alleged that Tiv farmers had suffered neglect leading to deepened poverty, hunger and insecurity across Tiv settlements in Nasarawa State.
UFAK attached records of previous petitions submitted to the Presidency, security agencies and other government institutions, lamenting that no decisive action had been taken on them. so far. It appealed to the international community, humanitarian and human rights organisations, civil society groups and Tiv professionals at home and abroad to support efforts aimed at recovering the alleged missing bodies and addressing the humanitarian crisis.
The group provided a breakdown of damages allegedly recorded between 2018 and 2025 across Keana, Obi, Doma, Awe and Lafia local government areas, claiming that 314 communities were invaded, 539 churches attacked, 158,251 houses destroyed, 3,959 persons killed and more than 652,000 persons displaced, with thousands of others missing or injured.
General News
Tinubu Appoints Adesayo, Ceo Nemsa; Magaji Da’u Aliyu As Md Of Shestco
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.
General News
Tiv Christians feared killed, churches burnt in 33 days in Taraba
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.
General News
Prof Gundu Asks Court to Strike out Gov Sule’s ₦100.5bn Defamation Suit
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.
