ABOMTSE: BETWEEN MURDEROUS HERDSMEN AND ANGRY SUBJECTS
Simon Shachia Oryila, PhD
Ter Tyoshin, His Royal Highest, Daniel Ayua Abomtse, the paramount ruler of Gwer West LGA in Benue State, is not a happy man. For more than one-decade, killer herdsmen have sieged his kingdom, killing and destroying the lives and property of his subjects. But the killing yesterday of three young men by armed herdsmen brought the matter to its head: irate youths massed to his palace, doused it with fuel and set it on fire after burning down his guest house.
Attempts to save valuables at the palace were partly futile. In the ensuring inferno, three cars, computers, books, official documents, reports of commissions, and other valuable archival materials that can never be found anywhere, among others, were burnt. The loss of the archival records, some of them preceding the reign of Orchivirigh Akawe Torkula, Tor Tiv IV, whom he served as secretary, others during the reign of Akawe Torkula, and yet others Abomtse’s unpublished insider accounts and perspectives on diverse aspects of the Tiv life, history, culture, and religion will remain one of the biggest tragedies that has befallen the Tiv nation in recent times.
Abomtse underwent tutelage under a king who brought honour and pride to the Tiv nation. In the process, he has become a valuable repository of Tiv native laws, customs and practices. He is considered the final arbiter on the contestations that plagued the Tiv nation and their armed attackers. He is by far the most knowledgeable on how best to deal with the attacks suffered by his subjects.
But the attacks have remained unabated, deteriorating over the years due to bad politics. Most villages have been deserted.
Some have been taken over by the killer herders who are now the new occupants. For more than twelve years, some people have not gone to their villages. Those who try get killed. Herdsmen ordinarily are not a threat, but when they take up arms and begin to act like bandits, it subverts the very purpose for which traditional herdsmen are known, it becomes a sacrilege.
Yet, it was for his subjects that Abomtse was suspended by Suswam. He was reinstated when Ortom came into office. Today, Abomtse is the target of his subjects, whom he has defended at all times. He is now the chief victim of the attacks by the murderous herdsmen in the bush and arsonist subjects at home.
Dr Simon Shachia Oryila
Department of English Language and Literature
Benue State University, Makurdi
