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Hon. Chief Ormin Torsar Victor, the Chief Executive and Chief Security Officer of Gwer-West Local Government Area in Benue State, has issued a strongly worded statement rejecting what he described as deliberate attempts to insult and diminish the Tyoshin Nation through misleading social media narratives and fabricated apologies.
In an exclusive interview with BENUE info-pedia published on February 11, 2026, Chief Torsar condemned portrayals of the Tyoshin man as submissive or desperate, describing such depictions as “dangerous and unacceptable.” He stressed that the core identity of the Tyoshin people rests firmly on courage, intellect, and honor, qualities he said must be fiercely protected against distortion.
The Chief specifically addressed and dismissed circulating claims that the Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District had tendered an apology to former Governor Samuel Ortom on behalf of the Tyoshin people. He labeled the alleged apology statement as a calculated move designed to undermine the dignity of the Tyoshin people and erode respect for their traditional institutions.
Chief Torsar posed pointed rhetorical questions challenging the narrative: “Has the Senator apologized for organizing elders to accuse Ortom of fueling the Fulani crisis in Ihyarev land? Has he apologized for the derogatory names he used against Ortom or for abandoning a man who trusted him as a Bureau boss?”
He extended his criticism to certain former appointees of ex-Governor Ortom from the Tyoshin area, accusing them of aligning with the Senator and issuing statements that amount to political submission rather than genuine defense of Ortom’s legacy or interests.
In a direct appeal to the younger generation, Chief Torsar urged Tyoshin youths—both men and women—to reject political manipulation and stand firm. “Tyoshin dignity is non-negotiable. Our identity is not for sale. Our elders and institutions are not pawns in political chess,” he declared.
While calling for mutual restraint across political lines, the Chief also appealed for balance. He suggested that if former Governor Ortom has restrained youths allegedly recruited by him from launching attacks, the same principle of restraint should apply to halting criticisms and attacks directed at Tyoshin traditional institutions.
The statement comes against the backdrop of heightened political rhetoric and ethnic sensitivities in parts of Benue State, particularly within the North-West Senatorial zone. Chief Torsar’s intervention appears aimed at reinforcing collective pride and resisting what he perceives as efforts to exploit or misrepresent Tyoshin identity for short-term political gains.
As debates continue online and within communities, observers note that such public positions from traditional and local government figures often influence broader conversations on leadership, loyalty, and ethnic dignity in the state. No immediate response has been reported from the Senator’s office or representatives of former Governor Ortom regarding Chief Torsar’s remarks.
