In a rare and momentous gathering, the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv Nation, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor-Tiv the 5th, on Monday hosted an emergency meeting with prominent Tiv leaders to address the escalating security crisis plaguing Tiv communities across Benue State and beyond.
The high-level meeting, held at the Tor Tiv Palace in Gboko Local Government Area, brought together political heavyweights, elder statesmen, traditional rulers, and other distinguished personalities of Tiv extraction in a powerful show of unity and concern for the worsening security situation.
Leading the delegation of dignitaries was the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who was joined by two former governors — Chief Samuel Ortom and Senator Gabriel Suswam — both of whom continue to command significant influence across the state.
Also in attendance were former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), serving and former senators, current members of the House of Representatives, commissioners, traditional chiefs, and top political and religious leaders from Tiv-speaking areas of the state.
Photos from the meeting show a solemn atmosphere as the Tor Tiv and his Council of Chiefs welcomed the delegation into the palace court with traditional rites, before proceeding behind closed doors for hours of deliberation.
Sources close to the meeting disclosed that the central focus of the gathering was the alarming rise in insecurity, including recurrent attacks by armed herdsmen, banditry, kidnappings, and the general breakdown of law and order in several parts of Benue State, particularly in rural Tiv communities.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Tor Tiv the 5th described the forum as “a historic and necessary convergence of Tiv leadership at all levels,” stressing that the survival, safety, and dignity of the Tiv people must be protected at all costs.
“The Tiv Nation is under siege,” the monarch declared. “We can no longer watch helplessly while our people are slaughtered, our communities destroyed, and our future threatened. We have come together today, as sons and daughters of Tiv land, to speak with one voice and forge a collective path forward.”
Governor Alia, in his remarks, expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity and reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring peace and security to every part of the state. He emphasized the need for a coordinated approach involving community leaders, security agencies, and federal intervention.
Former Governor Ortom, known for his vocal defense of Benue’s rights, echoed these sentiments, calling for urgent action and sustained unity among Tiv leaders. “Our people are being killed. Our farmers are afraid to go to their farms. We must rise above political differences and speak with one voice for the Tiv nation,” he said.
Senator Suswam commended the Tor Tiv for initiating the meeting and urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant, proactive, and united in the face of adversity.
The closed-door session reportedly ended with a strong resolution to intensify engagements with federal authorities, including the Presidency, the National Assembly, and security agencies. The leaders also resolved to establish a standing security and reconciliation committee to coordinate community-based intelligence, foster unity among Tiv sub-clans, and chart a comprehensive peace framework for affected areas.
This unprecedented meeting comes at a time when large parts of Benue’s agrarian belt, especially in Logo, Guma, Ukum, and Katsina-Ala, continue to witness intermittent violence, leading to displacement, loss of lives, and destruction of farmlands and homes.
Analysts say the convergence of such a powerful and diverse group of Tiv leaders could mark a turning point in the struggle for lasting peace and security in Benue State.
The Tor Tiv concluded the gathering with a call to action: “Let this day be remembered as the day Tiv leaders set aside politics and came together for the survival and future of the Tiv nation.”
Photos released from the palace captured symbolic moments of unity — including a rare handshake between current and former governors — which many have interpreted as a sign of renewed collaboration for the common good.
As the meeting ended, there was renewed hope among citizens that the unity of purpose demonstrated at the Gboko Palace could herald a new chapter in the Tiv people’s collective efforts to reclaim peace, dignity, and security in their ancestral homeland.
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