SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD - By Dr. Torngee Malu.

This is my summary of the current situation in Benue State and Tivland in particular. My small village was burned down 2 years ago in the first week of January just like the current situation and scores of lives lost and injured I have lost countless family members to these terrorists.... NOTHING happened to the terrorists. As I write this piece the village of our former governor, His Excellency Gabriel Suswam, Anyiin Village is under attack by the same terrorists. Again nothing seems to be done to these murderers rather peaceful protests are been confronted with the military and innocent students have been killed while protesting... NOTHING happened and it appears that Nothing will happen yet again to these evil forces and their sponsors so that they can get more confidence to attack the next village. 

These attacks are not communal clashes as most sympathizers of the terrorists call it, they are Terrorist attacks on non suspecting poor villagers who work day and night to feed Nigeria. Is it Ayilamo in Logo, or Tomatar in Guma Local Government? the story is always the same. Fulani herdsmen along with Boko Haram and other armed groups sneak in across the Benue river from their base in Nasarawa State and go on a killing spree with no resistance at all. The next day we hear nothing from our Representatives at the state or national level. The president turns a blind eye to the killings, and keeps mute as though nothing has happened to those who gave him victory at the polls ( Benue State has always voted the winner of the Presidential Elections, for the first time since 1999 they voted for Buhari and he won nationally for the first time) The governor makes some verbal promises and life goes on waiting for the next attack. 

I feel sad beyond description about this; I have thought about these incessant blood shed and I have concluded that the Benue people especially the Tiv Nation is like the Bible description of Sheep without a Shepherd; Where is Aper Aku? Because these will not happen under his watch? Where is Senator Sarwuan Tarkaa? Because Nigeria would have stood still until the president puts an end to this genocide. Where is Rev. Father Adasu? He would have been in Abuja at the gates of Aso Rock demonstrating with those who care to listen.... Alas they are all gone. We now have people who are more interested in dividing the Tiv Nation for their selfish political reasons and thus have no voice at the national level. They have no passion, no fire, no tears for the suffering of my people.

We need a new Tarkaa, we need a new Aper Aku, a new Adasu. A person who sees Benue not through ethnic or political lens but as one family, who's interest is to protect the Inhabitants no matter their tongue or region or political affiliation. One who is willing to go against his political party for the sake of his people. Who would speak out and the world will listen. This is who we need now and so desperately. The killings will only stop when we have a leader of the kind I mentioned. I dare say, we don't have such now. Please pray for Benue, pray for Tivland, pray for a Saviour, and make sure you register and Vote. Because God will use you to pick that leader come 2019.

 By:  Dr. Torngee Malu.  FWACS, FMCS, FDAFPRS (Stuttgart Germany)