In a strongly worded open letter on Friday, Dr. Timothy Aikor, a concerned citizen and academic, has urged the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi sule, to immediately reconsider a legal threat against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mkar, Prof. Zacharys Gundu.
The legal threats stems from Prof. Gundu’s statements that that attackers terrorizing Benue communities were being housed in Nasarawa State.
According to Dr. Aikor, the VC’s statement was not unfounded, but rather reflected the painful truth on the ground, backed by facts, security reports, and the lived realities of those directly affected. “The statement made by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mkar, suggesting that attackers terrorizing Benue communities are being housed in Nasarawa State, was not unfounded. It reflects the painful truth on the ground; one backed by facts, security reports, and the lived realities of those directly affected,” Dr. Aikor stated.
He cited several instances of deadly attacks on Benue communities, including Moon in Kwande, Tse-Apera in Gwer West, Udei in Guma, and most recently Yelewata in June 2025. In each case, the pattern was the same: the attackers came from across the Benue-Nasarawa border and retreated into areas like Awe, Doma, Keana, and the Adudu-Doma forest in Nasarawa State.
Dr. Aikor questioned how the attackers could freely cross over, kill, destroy, and return to Nasarawa State without being housed there. “If they aren’t housed in Nasarawa, how do they cross over, kill, destroy, and return so freely? Are they using fighter jets?” he asked.
The university don also referenced the DSS intelligence report cited by the Governor of Nasarawa, which confirmed that the attackers were hiding in forests within Nasarawa State. “Even more telling is that the DSS intelligence which Your Excellency personally referenced; noting a conversation between yourself and the Governor of Benue, clearly confirmed that the attackers are hiding in forests within Nasarawa State,” Dr. Aikor noted.
Dr. Aikor urged the Governor to focus on confronting the real threat from those spilling blood and displacing thousands rather than threatening legal action against someone speaking uncomfortable truths. “Instead of threatening legal action against someone speaking uncomfortable truths, should we not focus on confronting the real threat from those spilling blood and displacing thousands?” he asked.
He called for honest cooperation between Benue and Nasarawa States to restore peace, emphasizing that the two states must be partners in peace, not adversaries in politics or denial. “It is only through honest cooperation between our two states that we can restore peace. Benue and Nasarawa are neighbours. We must be partners in peace, not adversaries in politics or denial,” Dr. Aikor stated.
Dr. Aikor anticipated the withdrawal of the legal threat, emphasizing the need for collective action to address the security challenges facing the region. “Thank you for anticipated withdrawal of the legal threat, Sir,” he said.
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