Nasarawa land dispute: Tiv communities accuse authorities of flouting court order

Indigenous Tiv communities in Nasarawa State have accused state authorities of disregarding a subsisting court directive amid reports of renewed land acquisition activities affecting several Tiv settlements.

The allegations stem from an ongoing legal battle, Suit No. NSD/LF44/2025, currently before the Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Lafia, involving representatives of the Tiv communities and the Nasarawa State Government, among other parties.

According to the communities, the court on May 27, 2025, ordered all parties in the matter to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.

The directive was intended to prevent any action that could alter the condition of the disputed land while the suit is being heard.

However, counsel to the Tiv communities, Mr Terkaa Aondo, SAN, has alleged that the order has been breached.

Aondo claimed that despite the court’s ruling, there have been continued acts of trespass on the contested land, including farming activities allegedly carried out for private purposes.

The counsel argued that such actions not only violate the court’s directive but also erode the authority of the judiciary and risk escalating tensions within the affected communities.

The development has heightened concerns among Tiv residents, who fear that continued activities on the disputed land could complicate the legal process and worsen the already delicate situation on the ground.