By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse CFR, has condemned the recent violence in Zaki Biam, Ukum, which resulted in the destruction of lives and property.
In a press statement signed by Freddie Adamgbe, Special Assistant to Tor Tiv on Media and ICT, the Tor Tiv expressed his pain and disappointment over the incident, stating, “As the father of Tiv Kingdom, I am pained that the lives and property of my subjects in Sankera are destroyed. I spend sleepless nights deliberating on possible means to end the crisis in Ukum and Katsina Ala.”
The Tor Tiv lamented that despite efforts to restore peace in Sankera, criminality persisted, and assured the people that the Tiv Area Traditional Council, in partnership with the Benue State Government, would employ all possible means to stop further occurrences of mayhem in the area.
“I spend sleepless nights deliberating on possible means to end the crisis in Ukum and Katsina Ala. My prayers are that God should bring peace in the area because there cannot be any development in the area amidst killings and destruction of property,” Orcivirigh Ayatse decried.
The Tor Tiv commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his prompt response in deploying security agencies to Sankera to stop the crisis and announced plans to meet with political, community leaders, and youths in Sankera to find the root causes of the persistent unrest and restore permanent peace in the area.
The statement read, “The Tiv Area Traditional Council under my leadership has concluded plans to meet with political, community leaders, and youths in Sankera to find the root causes of the persistent unrest to restore permanent peace in the area.”
The Tor Tiv appealed to leaders in the Sankera axis to come together and amicably resolve their differences, stating, “Let us see the need to come together and amicably resolve our differences to restore peace in the area.”
The incident, which occurred on July 15, 2024, has left many dead and properties destroyed, with the Tor Tiv urging for peaceful resolution to restore peace in the area.