Teryima Andrew
The Tiv speaking people in Nigeria, particularly those in diaspora has been urge to be bold and united for the development of the middle-belt in order to fight terrorism in the region.
Leader of the Tiv community in Plateau state, Chief Peter Aper, made the call on Saturday in Jos, Plateau state during the official unveiling of “Ate U Tiv” meaning, Tiv compound, allotted to the ethnic group by the National Museum and monument Jos.
The community leader appeal to Tiv Sons and Daughters to eschew violence and bitterness of whatever kind among themselves.
Chief Aper in an address frown at criminality, he urge the entire Benue citizens and the entire Middle-belt citizens to love one another.
Earlier, guest speaker at the event Prof Adamu Adeyoungu, a professor of English from the university of Jos, lamented that the evil that has befallen middle-belt was as a result of abandoning cultural practice of the forefathers, particularly among Tiv people.
Adeyoungu noted with concern that Tiv speaking peoples defended the entire Nigerian territory while fighting to gain independence for the country, but have relax in practice of their culture, which has warranted the current mass killing of Tiv people by militias.
Prof Adeyoungu challenged the younger generation, not only among Tiv speaking people, but ethnic minorities of the middle belt, not to abandon the culture of their forefathers, he however sue for peace.
There was fund raising at the occasion to develop infrastructures at the Tiv compund allotted to Tiv people, under the chairmanship of Dr. Solomon Aguh, and Mrs Rose Mailumo.
