The Tor Tiv V, His Royal Majesty James Ayatse, has told President Bola Tinubu that the ongoing violence in Benue State should not be described as mere clashes between herders and farmers, but as a deliberate and coordinated campaign to seize land through violence.
Speaking during a meeting with the President and other stakeholders in Benue on Wednesday, the traditional ruler expressed concern over what he called widespread misinformation about the nature of the crisis.
“We are deeply troubled by the misrepresentation of the security situation in Benue State,” Ayatse said.
“This is not about herders-farmers clashes, communal disputes, or reprisal attacks.”
According to the monarch, the violence is part of a “calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign” carried out by armed herder groups and bandits.
He stressed that the conflict has persisted for decades and should be treated with the seriousness of an ongoing war.
“Misdiagnosing the crisis will only result in ineffective solutions,” he warned.
“This is not about promoting peaceful coexistence. It is about confronting an existential threat.”