By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia
A socio-cultural group, the Alago Ikweyi Gbayi Development Union (AIGDU), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to urgently demarcate the disputed boundary between Nasarawa and Benue States.
This coming after the gruesome attacks that claimed the lives of children, women, and other civilians in the border town of Yelwata.
In a statement jointly signed by AIGDU President, Mohammed Oshafu, and Publicity Secretary, Hassan Ozegya, the group said the failure to resolve boundary disputes has emboldened recurring violence, putting countless lives at risk.
“We are deeply disturbed by the killings and destruction in Yelwata. The only sustainable solution is for the Federal Government to immediately order a physical demarcation of the boundary to stop further bloodshed,” the statement said.
The group’s call came in response to comments made by the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, during President Tinubu’s condolence visit to Benue on June 18. The Tor Tiv had claimed that Yelwata belongs to Benue’s Guma LGA, alleging that Tiv lands had been encroached upon by Nasarawa State.
But AIGDU firmly rejected the claim, saying Yelwata is historically part of Keana LGA in Nasarawa State, founded by the Alago people, and later settled by other tribes, including the Tiv.
“Yelwata is not a new settlement. It is part of our ancestral land, and even Google Maps today confirms it is within Nasarawa’s territory,” the group stated.
While expressing sympathy to victims on both sides, the group warned against attempts to distort historical facts or politicize the tragedy.
They reiterated that the Alago people have coexisted peacefully with their neighbors for centuries and continue to welcome other ethnic groups in peace.