The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) has called for urgent and actionable measures to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where sustained violence and displacement continue to affect Tiv communities in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of MUTA’s 31st Annual Convention held in St. Louis, Missouri, under the theme “BEYONDNOW: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders.”
In a strongly worded communiqué signed by Prof. Akaa Daniel Ayangeakaa, President of MUTA, and Beeior Rov-Ikpah, Secretary of MUTA, the convention outlined a series of resolutions aimed at promoting youth leadership, unity, peacebuilding, and community-driven security strategies.
Delegates, drawn from across the United States and beyond, reaffirmed their commitment to the advancement of the Tiv nation and demanded renewed efforts from Nigerian authorities, the international community, and Tiv leaders at home and in the diaspora.
Below is the full communiqué from the convention:
The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA)
The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) successfully concluded its 31st Annual Convention, under the theme BEYONDNOW: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders. The convention brought together Tiv sons and daughters from across the United States and beyond to deliberate on critical issues affecting the Tiv nation, with a focus on leadership development, unity, and addressing the persistent insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states. The convention reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to actionable solutions for the progress and empowerment of the Tiv people.
Key Resolutions
1. Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
The convention emphasized the urgent need to nurture young Tiv leaders equipped with integrity, vision, and resilience. MUTA commits to:
Establishing mentorship programs to guide young Tiv professionals and students in leadership skills.
Promoting cultural awareness among the younger generation to preserve Tiv heritage and values while fostering innovation.
2. Promoting Unity Among the Tiv People
Recognizing the strength in unity, MUTA calls on:
All Tiv people, both at home and in the diaspora, to stand united in purpose and action. In particular, Tiv political leaders are urged to set aside personal and partisan differences and work together in the collective interest of the Tiv nation. The politicization of the suffering and security of our people must end. The lives and future of the Tiv people must take precedence over political ambitions and rivalries.
It further resolved to:
Strengthen collaboration between Tiv communities in the diaspora and those at home to foster a sense of shared identity and purpose.
Support initiatives that promote peace and reconciliation among Tiv clans and with neighboring communities in Nigeria.
3. Addressing Insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States
The convention expressed grave concern over the ongoing insecurity affecting Tiv communities, particularly the massacre and displacement of thousands due to violence by armed herdsmen. MUTA calls for:
Strengthening Anti-Open Grazing Law Enforcement: The Benue State Government should take deliberate and sustained action to empower relevant agencies and ensure and strengthen the full implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law, which is critical to protecting the lives, livelihoods, and ancestral lands of the Tiv people.
Community-Based Surveillance Systems: The Benue State Government should establish locally driven, well-coordinated surveillance systems that actively engage Tiv youth in every community. These systems will enhance early warning, intelligence gathering, and rapid response to security threats, empowering youth as frontline protectors.
Modern Security Technologies: MUTA urges the adoption of modern security technologies, such as drone surveillance, to monitor and protect Tiv communities. The use of drone technology will enhance real-time monitoring, improve response times, and serve as a force multiplier in detecting and deterring threats across vulnerable areas.
Urgent action by the Nigerian Federal Government to provide adequate security and facilitate the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral lands in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
A comprehensive resettlement plan that includes economic empowerment and infrastructure development to rebuild affected communities.
An end to the occupation of Tiv lands by armed herders and other groups, which threatens the survival of Tiv cultural and agricultural heritage.
International community support to address the humanitarian crisis and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.
4. Advocacy and Engagement
MUTA pledges to:
Engage with Nigerian authorities, international organizations, and human rights bodies to advocate for policies that protect Tiv lives and property.
Partner with other ethnic and cultural organizations to amplify the call for peace and justice in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Leverage media platforms to raise awareness about the challenges facing the Tiv people and promote positive narratives of Tiv contributions globally.
MUTA extends gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organizers who contributed to the success of the 31st Annual Convention. Special appreciation goes to the Tiv community in Nigeria for their resilience and to the global Tiv diaspora for their unwavering commitment to the advancement of the Tiv nation.
The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America reaffirms its dedication to the wellbeing of the Tiv people worldwide. Through leadership development, unity, and advocacy, MUTA will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a brighter future for the Tiv nation, both at home and abroad.
The BEYONDNOW vision is a call to action for all Tiv people to rise above challenges and build a legacy of progress and peace for generations to come.
MUTA calls for actionable solutions to humanitarian crisis in Middle Belt, protection of Tiv lands
