Benue crisis: Tiv traditional council laments over false narratives on killings (Photo)

The Tiv Traditional Supreme Council has urged politicians in the country not to attempt to change the true narrative on killings in Benue State.

The council expressed its anger over comments credited to some appointees of the federal government and politicians in Benue state whose comments tend to change what is already known about the invasion of the state by killer herdsmen across communities in the state.

Rising from an emergency council meeting in Gboko, presided over by Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iyortyer who represented His Royal Majesty, Tor Tiv Professor James Ayatse, the traditional rulers stated that the plot to change the narrative and turn the tables against Benue citizens smacks of mockery of the sensibility of the Tiv people and the entire state.

They described those promoting the thinking that Tiv people were killing themselves as ‘hostile and wicked’ and asked them to desist from such evil propaganda, saying it is a disservice to the Tiv nation at this time of mourning and trauma.

The council advised political actors in Benue state to come together and find ways of preventing further attacks on Benue Communities by killer herdsmen, while cautioning Tiv sons and daughters against politics of violence and acrimony
The Supreme council stated that it was pained particularly by the Mbalom killings where there is now another deliberate attempt to change the story, knowing fully well that the two priests and seventeen worshippers were killed by killer herdsmen.

The traditional leaders while decrying the cult related activities and the insecurity in Sankera axis of the state, also appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies to halt the ugly trend

They commended Governor Samuel Ortom and the federal government for their efforts in securing lives and property in Benue state especially through the activities of Operation Whirl Stroke, which they said have brought relative calm in the state

Reacting to this development, the Special Adviser, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Jerome Tor Shimbe commended the Tiv Traditional Council for their boldness and peace initiatives to restore peace in the state.

Mr Shimbe assured the traditional leaders that the state government was desirous to work with all stakeholders to bring insecurity in the state to an end.