By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia
A prominent socio-cultural organisation, the Alago Ikweyi Gbayi Development Union (AIGDU), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately direct the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to conduct a physical demarcation of the boundary between Nasarawa and Benue States to prevent recurring bloodshed in the volatile border communities.
The call was made in a statement jointly signed by AIGDU President, Mohammed Oshafu, and Publicity Secretary, Hassan Ozegya, and made available to journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Sunday.
This follows recent deadly attacks on Yelwata, a border community claimed by both states, which led to the loss of several lives—including children and pregnant women—and the destruction of homes and properties.
AIGDU’s statement was a response to claims made by the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, during President Tinubu’s condolence visit to Benue State. The monarch had asserted that Tiv people, who he said are indigenous to the disputed territory, were being labelled as non-indigenes and dispossessed of ancestral lands in Keana, Obi, and Awe LGAs of Nasarawa State.
But AIGDU dismissed those assertions as “inaccurate and provocative,” insisting that Yelwata is historically an Alago community, originally known as Alagon Omere, and is located within Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“Yelwata has always been part of Nasarawa State. Historical records, colonial documents, and even modern digital mapping like Google Maps confirm this. The Tiv people later settled in the area but are not the original inhabitants,” the group said.
While distancing itself from the immediate causes of the latest violence, AIGDU said it does not support bloodshed or communal strife and emphasized the region’s history of accommodating Nigerians from all walks of life in peace and harmony.
The union, however, insisted that the Tiv community holds no ancestral claim to the territories in question, stressing that Alago founders of Keana and Obi LGAs remain the original owners.
“Keana was founded as far back as 1232 AD, and its territory extended up to the North Bank of Makurdi before colonial restructuring pushed the boundary back to between Daudu and Yelwata,” the statement noted.
AIGDU urged President Tinubu to act swiftly by directing the NBC to carry out boundary demarcation based on existing federal boundary instruments to avoid future disputes and bloodshed.
“A clear demarcation will help state authorities, traditional rulers, and residents know their jurisdictions and help avert further crisis,” the group stated.
They also commended the President for his prompt visit to Makurdi on June 18, where he assessed the scale of devastation and offered condolences to the people of Benue State.
The border tensions between Nasarawa and Benue have periodically erupted into violence, with Yelwata—a key flashpoint—often at the center of disputes over land ownership, indigene status, and administrative control.
As the region continues to grapple with insecurity and communal distrust, the need for federal intervention through clear boundary enforcement has become increasingly urgent.
