The Nasarawa State Government has strongly denied allegations linking Governor Abdullahi A. Sule to the ongoing crisis in Benue State, describing the claims as baseless, malicious, and capable of jeopardizing regional peace efforts.
This was made known by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Addra, during a press conference held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Lafia.
Addra condemned a viral video in which Professor Zacha Anger Gundu, a former Pro-Chancellor of Benue State University, accused Governor Sule of "masking the killings in Benue State" and "forcefully taking over Tiv farmlands in Nasarawa and handing them to Fulani herdsmen."
“The Government and people of Nasarawa State are deeply pained by the killings in Benue State and are equally disturbed by the deliberate attempt to drag Governor Sule’s name into the crisis through unfounded claims,” he stated.
He described Professor Gundu’s accusations as unguarded, inflammatory, and devoid of evidence, warning that such utterances could inflame tensions and derail ongoing peacebuilding efforts across the North-Central region.
The state government challenged Professor Gundu to:
Provide empirical evidence of Nasarawa’s alleged role in harboring killer herdsmen.
Prove that lands belonging to Tiv communities in Nasarawa were forcefully taken and handed to Fulani groups.
Failure to substantiate these claims, Addra said, would leave Professor Gundu with no other option than to retract his statements and offer an unreserved public apology to Governor Sule and the Government of Nasarawa State.
"If this demand is not met, legal action will be instituted against the former Pro-Chancellor and his co-travellers," Addra affirmed.
He categorically stated that no Fulani person or group has approached the state government to request land, nor has the Governor, at any time, taken land from any citizen to hand over to herdsmen or any group.
Addra described the allegations as a desperate and calculated attempt to smear the hard-earned reputation of Governor Sule, who also serves as the Chairman of the North-Central Governors’ Forum.
He reiterated that Governor Sule’s administration has consistently engaged in proactive security collaborations with neighbouring states, including Benue, to promote peace and protect lives and property across borders.
"The relative peace enjoyed in Nasarawa State today is a product of sincere dialogue and inclusive engagement with ethnic groups, including the Tiv, Alago, and Fulani communities," Addra added.
He called on citizens of both Nasarawa and Benue States to disregard the accusations and work in partnership with both governors to resolve the crises threatening the region’s peace.
"Let it be known clearly, Governor Sule remains committed to peace, unity, and security. At no point has he ever supported or encouraged violence under any guise," the statement concluded.
