Prove Allegations Of Killer Herdsmen Camps, Land Grabbing Or Face Legal Action, Governor Sule Dares Prof Gundu

By Eric M. Kuju

The Nasarawa State Government has issued a stern ultimatum to Professor Zachary Anger Gundu, a prominent academic and former Pro-Chancellor of Benue State University, demanding that he produce concrete evidence to support his recent allegations against Governor Abdullahi A. Sule or risk facing legal action.

The warning was issued during a press conference addressed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ibrahim Addra, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Lafia.

According to Mr. Addra, the government is responding to a viral video in which Prof. Gundu accused Governor Sule of “masking the killings in Benue State” and “forcefully taking over farmlands belonging to the Tiv people of Nasarawa State and handing over same to Fulani herdsmen.”

Describing the remarks as “malicious,” “unguarded,” and “baseless,” the CPS stated, “We are dismayed that Prof. Gundu could stoop so low and throw caution to the wind by making such unsubstantiated and baseless allegations against the Governor.”

The statement emphasized that Nasarawa State shares in the grief of the killings in Benue, but will not tolerate attempts to malign the person of Governor Sule.

“It is on record that Governor Sule, in the spirit of brotherhood and good neighborliness, has continued to demonstrate serious concern and empathy over unfortunate killings in Benue and other parts of the North-Central region,” Addra noted.

He further issued a challenge to Prof. Gundu to provide “empirical evidence” to substantiate his claims.

“We challenge Prof. Gundu to:
i. Prove his allegations with empirical evidence, detailing where the said killer herdsmen are being camped in Nasarawa State and the involvement of the Governor in such.
ii. Bring forward, concrete evidence to substantiate the grievous allegations of land seized and handed over to herdsmen or any other persons for that matter,” the statement read.

Addra warned that failure to do so would leave Prof. Gundu with only one honorable path: to “retract his malicious statements against Governor Sule and tender an unreserved apology.” He added that should this not happen, “Governor Abdullahi Sule will institute legal actions against the former Pro-Chancellor and his co-travellers.”

The Nasarawa State Government also rejected any suggestion that the Governor or the administration had ever ceded land to Fulani herdsmen or any group.

“No Fulani man has ever approached the State Government for land, neither has the Governor as a person or the State Government forcefully taken over land from citizens not to talk of handing it over to anyone or group of persons,” the CPS stated.

The press conference also reiterated the State’s commitment to peace and inter-ethnic harmony, particularly between communities in Nasarawa and neighboring Benue.

“The relative peace in Nasarawa State under Governor Abdullahi Sule as acknowledged by many within and outside the State is achieved through effective partnership and support to security agencies, consistent dialogue with leaders of the various ethnic groups, including Tiv, Alago, Fulani, among other stakeholders.”

Addra concluded by urging the public to disregard the allegations and support joint peace efforts, emphasizing that “Governor Sule, who remains committed to building peace and unity among the people, cannot turn around to influence or encourage anybody to engage in criminal activities under whatever guise.”

This reaction by the Nasarawa State Government marks a new twist in the cross-border tensions triggered by the ongoing security challenges in the North-Central region.