By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
A community leader and National President, Tyoshin Development Association (TDA) in Benue State, Chief Tarnongo Timothy Tiza, has decried the gruesome murder of three of the association’s members by armed herdsmen.
The TDA President also decried the protest embarked upon by some persons, mostly youths, of Tyoshin in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state to register their grievances over the attack at Onmba-Aondo settlement in the area.
The protest led to the destruction of property worth millions of naira.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of TDA, Vincent Nyinongo said that Chief Tiza was pained by the unfortunate incident that resulted in the loss of lives of the trio and shared in the grief of family members of the deceased.
While acknowledging the continuous attacks by militia herders on the people of Gwer West, the community leader, who condemned the attacks, appealed to aggrieved members to halt action and opt for dialogue as an effective tool to arrive at peace.
The TDA President, according to the statement, urged the protesters to imagine the setback their action has caused which included burning of the Gwer West LG Secretariat; the Ter Tyoshin, HRH Chief Abomtse’s Palace; and other properties belonging to their kinsmen.
The State Governor Hyacinth Alia and TDA, the statement noted, were not oblivious of security issues bedeviling the area, assuring the people of his association’s determination and collaboration with relevant authorities and agencies to tame the tide of insecurity in Gwer West.
While he expressed hope that with God, the efforts on ground would yield positive results by bringing an end to security challenge in the area, Chief Tiza sued for calm and urged security agents to be up to their task of safeguarding lives and properties and curb further attacks on law abiding citizens of the LG.
