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Chief Iorbee Ihagh, the President-General of Mzough U Tiv Worldwide, has commended United States President Donald Trump for authorizing airstrikes against terrorist elements in North-West Nigeria and called for the military action to be extended to Benue State to halt what he described as the ongoing “genocide” against Christian communities.
Speaking in Makurdi on Tuesday, Chief Ihagh praised Trump for initiating operations against terrorist groups in the North-West, stating that the move has rekindled hope among communities in Benue that have endured prolonged violence, displacement, and destruction. He highlighted how U.S. intervention could provide lasting relief to farmers and rural dwellers affected by years of attacks.
“I am from Kwande Local Government Area, Moon Council Ward precisely. For over 16 years, our people have been displaced. Farms are destroyed, schools and hospitals burnt, and we can no longer access our ancestral homes,” Ihagh said, adding that anyone attempting to return risks being killed.
The Tiv leader revealed that he has written to President Trump to express gratitude and to request that U.S. forces extend operations to Benue, where he claimed priests, church members, and worshippers are frequently killed, even inside churches. He described the situation as alarming, unacceptable, and deeply troubling, criticizing security agencies for failing to prevent armed groups from moving freely with AK-47 rifles.
Ihagh also noted that a Christmas Eve vigil in Makurdi was canceled following an alleged threat letter from armed herdsmen, forcing churches to reschedule Christmas Masses to earlier hours between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for security reasons. He commended the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, for the timely decision to safeguard lives.
Expressing optimism, Ihagh said the recent U.S. actions in the North-West signal that “the end of terrorism is near” and urged the United States to offer humanitarian support to thousands of displaced persons in Benue, describing the scale of suffering as a full-blown emergency requiring international fellowship.
While the U.S. airstrikes targeted Islamic State-affiliated militants in the North-West, communities in Benue and other Middle Belt regions continue to grapple with separate but persistent conflicts often involving armed herders, underscoring the complex security challenges across Nigeria. Chief Ihagh’s plea reflects growing calls from affected areas for broader intervention to restore peace and enable residents to return to their homes.
