Military Officer Urges Tinubu, National Assembly To Act As Attacks Ravage Tiv
Military Officer Urges Tinubu, National Assembly to Act as Attacks Ravage Tiv Communities A senior Nigerian military officer has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently intervene in the escalating violence affecting Tiv communities in southern Taraba and parts of Benue State. The appeal follows a renewed wave of coordinated attacks that have left several Tiv settlements in ruins, with widespread destruction of homes, farmlands, and harvested crops reported across affected areas. According to the officer, whose community lies in the Mbajir area of Taraba, multiple villages across three local government areas have come under sustained assault over the past two weeks. Residents, unable to withstand heavily armed attackers, have reportedly fled en masse, abandoning their homes and livelihoods. The situation turned tragic when two relatives of the officer his stepbrothers were allegedly ambushed and killed after returning to assess damage to their ancestral home.
- Mass displacement of residents
- Loss of lives
- Destruction of agricultural assets
- Growing humanitarian concerns
The officer warned that the pattern of violence suggests a worsening crisis that could spiral further without swift intervention
In his appeal, the officer urged both the presidency and lawmakers to:
- Deploy stronger security presence in affected areas
- Protect vulnerable rural communities
- Restore displaced residents to their homes
- Prevent further attacks
He stressed that local populations currently lack the means to defend themselves against armed assailants.
The latest incidents highlight persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Tiv communities spread across Taraba State and Benue State have long faced recurring attacks linked to communal and armed group violence.
Reports from community leaders indicate that threats of further attacks remain, even as security deployments in some areas have begun to restore relative calm.
Beyond the immediate loss of life, the violence is severely disrupting:
- Farming activities in agrarian communities
- Food supply chains
- Local economies
The destruction of crops and displacement of farmers raise fears of food insecurity as the planting season approaches.
The Tiv ethnic group has historically been among the most affected by violent conflicts in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, often experiencing village raids, killings, and displacement linked to armed groups and communal clashes.
Analysts warn that without decisive government intervention, such attacks could continue to erode trust in state security institutions. The military officer’s plea adds to growing calls from stakeholders demanding stronger federal action to address insecurity in rural communities. Observers say the response of the Federal Government and National Assembly in the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the violence can be contained—or escalates into a broader humanitarian crisis.
