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The Tiv Youths Organisation (TYO) Worldwide has issued a stern 90-day ultimatum to political aspirants across all parties, as well as governments at local, state, and federal levels, demanding an immediate end to the persistent killings in Abande, Kwande Local Government Area, and other affected Tiv communities in Benue State.
In a strongly worded statement, the Acting President General of the organisation, Comrade Patrick Terfa Angbagh, condemned the continued loss of innocent Tiv lives, widespread displacement, and what he described as a glaring failure of leadership and governance. He accused politicians of treating the blood of Benue people as mere political statistics and declared that the people have endured enough pain, mass burials, and empty condolences.
Angbagh warned that if the killings do not stop within the next 90 days, no political aspirant—regardless of party affiliation—should expect to campaign freely or seek votes in Benue State during the 2027 general elections. He stated emphatically that political ambition without responsibility for human life is unacceptable, and that Tiv youths across the state are prepared to mobilise peacefully to resist any attempt to normalise insecurity for electoral gain.
The TYO leader stressed that security is not a mere campaign slogan but a constitutional duty. He called on the Federal Government to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security deployment, and ensure greater accountability from security agencies. He also urged the Benue State Government to shift from rhetoric to concrete, actionable measures, while holding local government authorities accountable for community-level protection and the establishment of effective early warning systems.
Angbagh further cautioned against silence, indifference, or the political exploitation of the crisis, insisting that Benue must not be reduced to a killing field in the lead-up to future elections. “Any aspirant who cannot defend the lives of the people has no moral right to ask for their votes,” he declared.
Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to peaceful advocacy, justice, and the protection of Tiv ancestral lands, the TYO called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to join in demanding urgent action to halt the violence. The statement concluded with a resolute message: “Enough is enough. Benue lives matter.”
The ultimatum comes amid heightened insecurity in parts of Benue State, particularly in Kwande LGA, where recent attacks—including the deadly assault on Abande market that claimed multiple lives—have fueled public anger and renewed scrutiny of both state and federal responses to the crisis. The TYO’s warning signals growing frustration among youth groups and communities tired of recurring violence and perceived inaction from those in positions of power.
