The paramount ruler of the Tiv people, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula has said that he will not give any piece of land in his domain for the proposed grazing reserves. He was reacting to calls by some individuals who said that grazing reserves be set up for Fulani herdsmen.

Dr Torkula who is known as the Tor Tiv made the position known when the Tiv Professional Group (TPG) paid him a courtesy call over the weekend. He stated that due to the growing population of his people, it will be ridiculous for the Tiv people to let their lands for the purpose of grazing.

The paramount ruler of the Tiv people, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula has said that he will not give any piece of land in his domain for the proposed grazing reserves. He was reacting to calls by some individuals who said that grazing reserves be set up for Fulani herdsmen.

Dr Torkula who is known as the Tor Tiv made the position known when the Tiv Professional Group (TPG) paid him a courtesy call over the weekend. He stated that due to the growing population of his people, it will be ridiculous for the Tiv people to let their lands for the purpose of grazing.

He said “Within my powers, I will not concede one inch of Tiv land for grazing reserves or grazing routes. My subjects are farmers and they need the land to farm. In modern times, and globally, those investing in cattle acquire lands for ranches. They then source for food for their cattle. This solves a lot of conflicts”.

The Tor Tiv said that open air grazing model of cattle rearing is archaic and unsustainable while calling that it should be abandoned. He added that the provision of grazing reserves would not solve the farmers/herders crisis in the state.

He said “Farming is our occupation and we don’t even have enough land. Tiv lands in Taraba and Nasarawa States are gradually being taken over. They still want us to give up the little land we have left for grazing. That is too much to ask; it is unacceptable”.

The paramount ruler who was grieved that his ancestral home was sacked and razed down by herdsmen said it took the presence of military personnel for his people to bury their dead. He said “The corpses of kiths and kins are decaying, yet no one can go bury them because my ancestral home has been occupied by herdsmen”.

He called on the security operatives to reclaim back the Tiv territories occupied by the herdsmen so that the natives can go back to their farms. Torkula called for the revival of moribund Mzough U Tiv Association, a platform where Tiv sons and daughters share ideas for development.

Dr Zachariah Gundu who spoke on behalf of the Tiv Professional Group supported the position of the Tor Tiv on the grazing reserves and stated that they will do everything possible to resuscitate the forum so as to enable indigenes of the land meet and discuss issues.

count | 30

No Tiv land will be released for grazing reserves – Tor Tiv