HISTORY OF BENUE STASTE

Benue State

Benue State
State
Nickname(s): Food Basket of the Nation
Location of Benue State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°20′N 8°45′ECoordinates: 7°20′N 8°45′E
	Nigeria
	3 February 1976
	akurdi
History of Benue State Population Structure and Distribution The State has a total population of 4,253,641 in 2006 census, with an average population density of 99 persons per km2. This makes Benue the 9th most populous state in Nigeria. However, the distribution of the population according to Local government areas shows marked duality. There are areas of low population density . such as Guma, Gwer East, Ohimini, Katsina-Ala, Apa, Logo and Agatu, each with less than seventy persons per km2, while Vandeikya, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, Obi and Gboko have densities ranging from 140 persons to 200 persons per km2. Makurdi LGA has over 380 person per km2. The males are 49.8 percent of the total population while females constitute 50.2 per cent. Settlement Pattern and Urbanization Benue State region was depleted of its human population during the slave trade. It is largely rural, with scattered settlements mainly in tiny compounds or homesteads, whose population range from 630 people, most of whom are farmers. Urbanization in Benue State did not predate the colonial era. The few towns established during colonial rule remained very small(less than 30,000 people) up to the creation of Benue State in 1976. Benue towns can be categorised into three groups. The first group consists of those with a population of 80,000 to 500,000 people. These include Makurdi, the State Capital, Gboko and Otukpo the "headquarters" of the two dominant ethnic groups (125,944 and 88,958 people respectively). The second group comprises towns with a population of between 20,000 and 50,000 people and includes Katsina-Ala, Zaki-Biam, Ukum and Adikpo, Kwande. These are all local government headquarters. The third category comprises towns with a population of 10,000 to 19,000 people and includes Vandeikya, Lessel, lhugh, Naka, Adoka, Aliade, Okpoga, lgumale, Oju, Utonkon, Ugbokolo, Wannune, Ugbokpo, Otukpa, Ugba and Korinya. Most of these towns are headquarters of recently created Local Government Areas and/or district headquarters or major market areas. Some of the headquarters of the newly created LGAs have populations of less than 10,000 people. Such places include Tse-Agberaba, Gbajimba, Buruku, Idekpa, Obagaji and Obarikeito. Apart from earth roads, schools, periodic markets and chemists(local drug stores), the rural areas are largely used for farming, relying on the urban centres for most of their urban needs. Benue State has no problem of capital city primacy. Rather, three towns stand out very clearly as important urban centres which together account for more than 70 per cent of the social amenities provided in the state and almost all the industrial establishments. These centres are Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo. They are amongst the oldest towns in the state and are growing at a much faster rate than the smaller younger towns. Makurdi doubles as the capital of the state and the headquarters of Makurdi LGA, while Gboko, Otukpo and Oju double as local government and ethnic headquarters (i.e. for Tiv, Idoma, and Igede). All the roads in the state radiate from these three centres. As an administrative unit, Benue State was first created on 3 February 1976. It was one of the seven states created by the military administration headed by General Murtala Mohammed, which increased the number of states in the country from 13 to 19. In 1991, its boundaries were re-adjusted with the creation of Kogi State. The new Benue State of today has twenty (23) local government areas, which are administered by local government councils. Geology and Environment Benue State lies within the lower river Benue trough in the middle belt region of Nigeria. Its geographic coordinates are longitude 7° 47' and 10° 0' East. Latitude 6° 25' and 8° 8' North; and shares boundaries with five other states namely: Nasarawa State to the north, Taraba State to the east, Cross-River State to the south, Enugu State to the south-west and Kogi State to the west. The state also shares a common boundary with the Republic of Cameroon on the south-east. Benue occupies a landmass of 34,059 square kilometres. Geology Based on Köppen climate classification, Benue State lies within the AW climate and experiences two distinct seasons, the Wet season and the Dry season. The rainy season lasts from April to October with annual rainfall in the range of 100-200mm. The dry season begins in November and ends in March. Temperatures fluctuate between 21 – 37 degrees Celsius in the year. The south-eastern part of the state adjoining the Obudu-Cameroun mountain range, however, has a cooler climate similar to that of the Jos Plateau. Much of Benue State falls within the Benue Valley/trough which is believed to be structurally developed. During the Tertiary and possibly the Interglacial periods of the Quaternary glaciation, the Benue and Niger Valleys, otherwise known as the Niger/Benue trough, were transgressed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, marine sediments form the dominant surface geology of much of Benue State. Mineral Resources Benue State is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These resources are distributed in the Local Government Areas of the state. Of these mineral resources, only Limestone at Tse-Kucha near Gboko and Kaolinite at Otukpo are being commercially exploited. Other mineral deposits include Baryte, Gypsum, Feldspar, Wolframite, Kaolinite, mineral salts and Gemstone etc. Natural Resources Benue State is the nation's acclaimed food basket because of its rich agricultural produce which include Yam, Rice, Beans, Cassava, Sweet-potato, Maize, Soybean, Sorghum, Millet, Sesame, cocoyam etc. The state accounts for over 70% of Nigeria's Soybean production. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, engaging over 75% of the state farming population. The State also boasts of one of the longest stretches of river systems in the country with great potential for a viable fishing industry, dry season farming through irrigation and for an inland water highway. The vegetation of the southern parts of the state is characterised by forests, which yield trees for timber and provide a suitable habitat for rare animals types and species. The state thus possesses potential for the development of viable forest and wildlife reserves. Relief and Drainage The land is generally low lying (averaging 100m-250m) and gently undulating with occasional inselbergs, Knoll, Laterite etc. It is only at the boundary area with Cameroon, also Kwande and Oju Local Government Areas that hilly terrain with appreciable local relief is encountered. Here, the terrain is characterised by steep slopes, deep incised valleys and generally rugged relief. Elsewhere, gradients average less than 4°. River Benue is the dominant geographical feature in the state. It is one of the few large rivers in Nigeria. The Katsina-Ala is the largest tributary, while the smaller rivers include Mkomon, Amile, Duru, Loko Konshisha, Kpa, Okpokwu, Mu, Be, Aya, Apa Ogede and Ombi. The flood plains which are characterised by extensive swamps and ponds are good for dry season irrigated farming. Though Benue State has high drainage density many of the streams are seasonal. Hence, there is an acute water shortage in the dry season in Local Government Areas such as Guma, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, Gwer West (Naka, Nigeria) and Oju. People and culture The state is populated by several ethnic groups: Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun, Hausa, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon. The Tiv are the dominant ethnic group, occupying 14 local government areas with the Etulo and Jukun , while the Idoma, Igede, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon occupy the remaining nine local government areas. Most of the people are farmers while the inhabitants of the river areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary occupation. The people of the state are famous for their cheerful and hospitable disposition as well as rich cultural heritage. Traditional Rulers The Benue State Government accords high respect to traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development. Also, their roles in enhancing peace and order at the grassroots level are also recognised. To enhance their contribution to the affairs of the state, government has established a three-tier traditional council system made up of Local Government Area Traditional Councils, Area Traditional Councils and the State Council of Chiefs with the Tor Tiv (Tiv king) as chairman. The two Area Councils are the Tiv Traditional Council and the Idoma Traditional Council. The former has the Tor Tiv(Tiv King) as chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Tiv dominant Local Government Areas, while the latter has the Och' Idoma (Idoma king) as the chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Idoma dominant Local Government Areas. The State Council of Chiefs had the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse (Tor Tiv V) ([5]), with Och'Idoma and all second class Chiefs/Chairmen of the Local Government Traditional Council as members. Culture Dancers in Benue state attire Benue State possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage which finds expression in colourful cloths, exotic masquerades, supplicated music and dances. Traditional dances from Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. The most popular of these dances include Ingyough, Ange, Anchanakupa, Swange and Ogirinya among others. The socio-religious festivals of the people, colourful dances, dresses and songs are also of tourist value. The Alekwu ancestral festival of the Idoma people, for instance, is an occasion when the local people believe their ancestors re-established contact with the living in the form of masquerades. The lgede-Agba is a Yam Festival, marked every year in September by the lgede people of Oju and Obi local government areas. Among the Tiv, the Tiv Day, marriage ceremonies and dance competitions (e.g. Swange dance) are often very colourful. Kwagh-hir is a very entertaining Tiv puppet show. Social life in Benue State is also enriched by the availability of diverse recreational facilities. Apart from parks, beaches, dancing and masquerades mentioned above, the big hotels in Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo are equipped with several indoor sporting facilities. There are golf clubs, the Makurdi Club, Railway Club, Police Club and Air Force Club, where, apart from the sale of drinks and snacks, various types of games are played. There is a standard Arts Theatre, a modern Sports Complex which includes the Aper Aku Stadium, which has provisions for such games as tennis, basketball, volleyball and handball, an indoor sports hall and Olympic size swimming pool in Makurdi. A Smaller stadia exist in Gboko (J. S. Tarka Stadium), Katsina-Ala, Adikpo, Vandeikya and Otukpo. The BCC Lawn Tennis tournament attracts players from all over the country. Benue State has three teams in the professional soccer ranks, Lobi Stars F.C. in Division One, BCC Lions FC in Division Two, Mark mentors as the basketball premier league team. The State Capital Makurdi, the state capital was established in the early twenties and gained prominence in 1927 when it became the headquarters of the then Benue Province. Being a river port, it attracted the establishment of trading depots by companies such as United Africa Company of Nigeria and John Holt plc. Its commercial status was further enhanced when the Railway Bridge was completed and opened in 1932. In 1976, the town became the capital of Benue State and today, doubles as the headquarters of Makurdi Local Government Area. The town is divided by the River Benue into the north and south banks, which are connected by two bridges: the railway bridge, which was built in 1932, and the new dual carriage bridge commissioned in 1978. The southern part of the town is made up of several wards, including Central Ward, Old GRA, Ankpa Ward, Wadata Ward, High Level, Wurukum (Low Level), New GRA etc. Important establishments and offices located here include the Government House, The State Secretariat, The Federal Secretariat, The Central Bank of Nigeria Regional headquarters, Commercial Banks, Telecommunication companies, Police Headquarters, Nigeria Prisons Service, Aper Aku Stadium, Nigeria Air force Base, Makurdi, The Makurdi Modern Market, the Federal Medical Centre, Nigeria Railway Station, Benue Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Radio Benue, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigerian Postal service, Benue Hotels Makurdi, Benue Plaza hotel, Benue State University, Benue State Breweries. The North bank area of the town houses among other establishments, the Federal University of Agriculture, the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, the headquarters of the 72 Airborne Battalion and the State Headquarters of the Department of Customs and Excise. Owing to its location in the valley of River Benue, Makurdi experiences warm temperatures most of the year. The period from November to January, when the harmattan weather is experienced is, however, relatively cool. Makurdi can be reached by air, rail, road and water. The major northern route is the Makurdi – Lafia – Jos road. The southern routes are Makurdi – Otukpo – Enugu and Makurdi – Yandev – Adikpo – Calabar roads. Traffic from the west comes through Makurdi – (3) Naka – Adoka Ankpa (3) – Okene (1) roads and from the east through Makurdi – Yandev – Katsina Ala – Wukari roads. These Makurdi Rail Bridge provides the only rail link between the northern and eastern parts of Nigeria. Makurdi Airport has the Nigerian Airways and other private airlines provide air links between Makurdi and the rest of the country. The beautiful beaches of River Benue can be exploited to provide good sites for relaxation. The river itself provides tourist opportunities for boating angling and swimming. The Makurdi Moratorium that houses a variety of animals including some rare species also serves as another feature of tourist attraction. Local Government Areas Benué State consists of twenty-three (23) Local Government Areas. They are: Local Government Area Headquarters Ado Igumale Agatu Obagaji Apa Ugbokpo Buruku Buruku Gboko Gboko Guma Gbajimba Gwer East Aliade Gwer West Naka Katsina-Ala Katsina-Ala Konshisha Tse-Agberagba Kwande Adikpo Logo Ugba Makurdi Makurdi Obi Obarike-Ito Ogbadibo Otukpa Ohimini Idekpa Oju Anyuwogbu-ibilla Okpokwu Okpoga Otukpo Otukpo Tarka Wannune Ukum Sankera Ushongo Lessel Vandeikya Vandeikya Economy Agricultural production Agriculture forms the backbone of the Benue State economy, engaging more than 70 per cent of the working population. This has made Benue the major source of food production in the Nation. It can still be developed because most of the modern techniques are not yet popular to 98% of Nigeria. Mechanization and plantation agriculture/agro-forestry are still at its infancy. Farm inputs such as fertilizers, improved seed, insecticides and other foreign methods are being increasingly used. However, cost and availability is still a challenge. Important cash crops include Soy-beans, Rice, Peanuts, mango varieties, Citrus etc. Other cash crops include Palm oil, Melon, African pear, Chili pepper, Tomatoes etc. Food crops indude Yam, Cassava, Sweet potato, Beans, Maize, Millet, Guinea corn, Vegetables etc. There is very little irrigation agriculture and techniques. Animal production include, Cattle, Pork, Poultry and Goat but no dairy and dairy products yet. Commerce and industry Banking services are available as all the banks in Nigeria have branches in the state with the Central Bank of Nigeria having its regional headquarters in Makurdi. Dangote Cement Company is a private company that operates within the state and provides a little employment to the people. This is a rough estimated employment percentage in the state: 75% are farmers, 10% traders, 6% civil servants, 9% private. Benue State has the capacity to support a wide range of industries using local agricultural and mineral resources although potentials are yet to be exploited. Private initiatives in commerce and industry, particularly by indigenes, is as also on a small scale and is limited to carpentry, shoe repairs and manufacturing, small scale rice mills, leather and plastic industries, weaving, printing, catering, block making, food processing etc. Industry and commerce have been greatly retarded by the absence of capital funds, basic infrastructure and the frequent political changes. Infrastructure and Transportation The location of Benue State in the centre of the country plus the presence of bridges on two large rivers, the Benue River and Katsina-Ala River, make the state a major cross-roads centre. Two major highways connect the Eastern States to the North and North East. The present government has shown commitment to the construction of roads within the state capital Makurdi and other major roads leading in and out of the state. The roads are in an excellent condition. The Federal government is also remodelling and expanding the Makurdi Airport to become the largest agricultural cargo airport in the country. The rivers Benue and Katsina-Ala only needs to be dredged and a modern river port built at Makurdi, Turan, Buruku and Katsina-Ala to transport goods all over the nation since the state is at the middle of the country. Ships are sighted very occasionally offloading cargo for Benue company at the Abinsi jetty. The eastern rail line connects Makurdi, Otukpo, Taraku, Utonkon and lgumale with the rest of the country. Altogether, about 180 km of rail line traverses the state. Power supply Electricity is not yet stable but industrialists use private power plants. Telecommunications Benue has facilities for the GSM service companies operating in the Country The state also has 4 radio stations and 2 television stations. Tourism and Recreation Benue State possesses immense tourism potentials which are yet to be exploited. Since some of the tourist attractions are best selected by the tourist, Benue State in her bid to develop tourism embarked on infrastructural development necessary for the overall well being of the tourist. The options are still opened to foreign investors. The programme of road development, hotels, postal, telephone and Email services, electricity, potable water, recreational facilities and the general hospitality of the people will eventually open up the state to tourists. An amusement park and Zoo have been developed at Makurdi. There is a wild life park at lkwe where a conference hall and chalets have been built to serve tourists. Tourist attractions in the state may be grouped into natural scenic, historical monuments and festivals. Natural Attractions in Benue State include hills and ranges such as Ikyogen, Abande, Ngokur, Mkar, Ushongo and Harga. There is a heavily wooded natural trench at Tse-Mker which is believed to be inhabited by dangerous creatures including Pythons. Gurgul is a waterfall on Katsina Ala River. The border stretch adjoining the Obudu/South Cameroon Plateau ranges features a beautiful scenery of forests, dissected hills, Dykes, dozens of fast flowing streams and incised valleys. In the Dry season, the water level in both the Benue River and Katsina-Ala River falls, giving rise to beautiful sandy river beaches and clean shallow waters. The waters are excellent for recreational boating and swimming. At Orokam in Ogbadibo Local government areas, occurs the Enumabia Warm Spring.At Epwa-Ibilla, Andi-Ibilla, Uchenyum-Ibilla, Okochi-Uwokwu, Irachi-Uwokwu, Ette-Uda-Uwokwu, Odepa-Uwokwu, Igbegi-Ipinu-Uwokwu, Edde-Ibilla-Uwokwu, and Ohuma-Uwokwu of Oju, are springs of clean water. There are masses of unusually tall trees in the deep valleys and on the pretty steep highlands, which are all however inhabited. Historical monuments in the state include the Royal Niger Company Trading Stores at Makurdi and Gbileve near Katsina-Ala; the tombs of the first Dutch missionaries at Harga and Sai in Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas; the tombs of the legendary politician, Mr. J. S. Tarka and past three Tor Tiv in Gboko town; and the trench fortifications in Turan district of Kwande local government areas which were dug by the Tiv to ward off Chamba invasions in the 19th century. At Utonkon, is a thick forest with tall giant trees, the centre of which used to serve as a slave trade market, but is now the site of shrines and a periodic market. Swem is a shrine site at the foot of the Cameroon range in Kwande local government area from where the Tivs were said to have originated.
Idomaland: Where the gods still impose penalties
In parts of Idomaland, specifically the south senatorial district of Benue State, there is the rather high attachment to traditional beliefs. The most prominent is the belief in ‘Alekwu’- the spirit of the ancestors - which has remained a cultural practice among the people that is intended to uphold morals, respect and dignity for one another. The practice of Alekwu is hallowed in the three districts of Orokam, Otukpa and Owukpa kingdoms, which make up Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of the state. In the world of these Ogbadigbo communities, certain stiff penalties are still considered necessary to rid the domain of bad influences, and to remind those who may want to get involved in any act termed taboo by Alekwu, to desist. To be precise, Alekwu is a traditional god of the Idoma, popularly believed amongst the people to have the power to protect, reward and punish sons and daughters of the land. The Idoma believe that it could punish anyone who goes contrary to the morals, norms, cultures or traditions already laid down. For instance, a woman automatically comes under the oath of Alekwu when she marries a man of Idoma origin. The spirit oversees women and keeps a tab on their fidelity. Alekwu chastises unfaithful women, by causing unexplained circumstances to work against members of the offending family. Also, a male of Idoma extraction who, for example, commits incest, would likewise incur the wrath of the god, except he confesses, and performs certain rites to pacify the spirits. In all of Idoma land, the long history of Alekwu’s law as regards sex, communal disputes, man’s inhumanity to man, injustice and other forms of societal ills, is being preserved and handed down from one generation to another. Particularly, a family under the spell of Alekwu risks untimely and sudden death of mostly, it’s male children, ill-luck, strange sicknesses which are likely to defy medical intervention, and in the event of delayed or prolonged consultation of the gods, the head of the family pays the supreme price with his life. Oftentimes, relief for such offenders begins by way of confession of the crimes committed against the gods of the land, and then the repentance process is observed, to ensure that the spirit of the ancestors is appeased, by cleansing the offenders of accumulated guilt. Failure to do so, the offender dies mysteriously within a stipulated period of usually 7, 14 to 21 days or one year as the case maybe, depending on the degree of offence committed. While the belief cuts across all Idoma speaking people in Benue, the penalty for an offender seems to vary from one axis of the tribe to the other. Just as in most cases, women seem to bear the brunt of the consequences, depending on the community they belong. Undoubtedly, these penalties are seen as the community’s way of policing crimes based on conviction that no church can halt such punishment, which is usually meted out to offenders. It is a notable fact that a married woman from any of these communities is not expected to expend her legitimate income on projects such as building for her biological family or spend on other gigantic purposes, without the knowledge of her husband. She is also not expected to take any decision about family planning without the knowledge of her husband, to avoid the wrath of the gods. “As a matter of fact, the married woman either from or to an Orokam man must get the approval of her husband to use her own money to build a house for her parents, anything otherwise, the Alekwu would find her guilty and penalise her,” Mr. Mike Idoko a native of Orokam said. Idoko explained that the church could not do anything to stop the tradition, because it had been in existence from time immemorial, especially for the simple reason that the tradition also meant well for the people in line with the belief of other faiths. He said a man of Orokam descent cannot approve an abortion for his wife with his personal money in the event of a life threatening pregnancy, and that he must confront his wife with rumours of infidelity or risk his own death in both cases. In the same vein, Chief Dennis Eje Onoja from Owukpa district, in his response on whether these penalties really work, nodded in the affirmative, warning that the potency of the Alekwu could not be contended with. “Yes. Alekwu is still in existence even though some people think that it’s no longer in vogue. If it catches a woman, she must confess her atrocity. If she is lucky after the confession, Alekwu will leave her, but if she doesn’t Alekwu will continue to reduce her physically. She will shrink like an AIDS patient until she confesses and dies,” he said. Onoja added that no church could stop the punishment because it was the custom, religion and tradition of the people, irrespective of who they were and where they lived; so long as their roots can be traced to the soil,or they were non-indigenes resident in the community. He said that the men were not left out of the anger of the gods if they were found to commit any brutality such as killing another person, which was also not in line with God’s wish, stressing that, “Alekwu will arrest the offender.” However, Chief Onoja noted that the punishment for the female folk usually came faster than that of the male folk, and that a man who committed adultery also came under the wrath of the gods, but that their case was not as rampant as that of the women. He said if the secret of the offence was not revealed by the offender, so that the gods were appeased, the man or woman who incurred Alekwu’s wrath would be rendered useless and, like a mad person he or she would talk senselessly. He explained further that if the offender agreed to cooperate within the period of grace, often three days to one-year, depending  on the gravity of the offence, such a person would be taken to the village shrine with a goat or hen as may be demanded by the custodian of Alekwu, to appease the gods. “Even if the offender is a born-again Christian, he would be dealt with. The parents of the offender may or may not be Christians, but Alekwu will still arrest the offender. Similarly, if a non-indigene resident in Owukpa offends, so long as he drinks from the soil of the land, he  will be arrested by Alekwu,” Onoja added. As for Elder Godwin Uja of Ugwu community in Owukpa district, the sins against Alekwu spirit could be described as “very grievous”, maintaining that the worship of Alekwu was respected by the elders of the land. “The Alekwu can bring calamity upon its offender, even though the conflict in modern times is that the church people are against it,” Uja said. Similarly, Elder Amuta Onoja Simon of Orokam district insisted that a married woman must steer clear of adultery or she would be killed by Alekwu, noting that the tradition could not be jettisoned because of the church. It is a common awareness that most communities in Idoma land set aside a period of three days every year to celebrate the spirits for bountiful harvest in the outgoing year and the expectation for the beginning of the New Year’s planting season. This occasion is usually referred to as the ‘Eje Aleku’ festival. During the festival, the spirits of the ancestors usually manifest as masquerades known as the Alekwaafia,who runs through the genealogies of the descent in a poetic tune to the admiration of all. An Idoma scholar, Amali, E. Odumu, described the Alekwaafia as the reincarnation of an Idoma ancestral father into a masquerade, based on the concept of life after death, so much that the importance they attach to the masquerade and its poetic tradition cannot be over-emphasised. The rendition of the Alekwu poetry is viewed as a source agent that refers to sustenance of cultural values and identity during the festival, which attracts a large turnout of sons and daughters of the land at home and abroad. However, worshippers of the Alekwu are quick nowadays to blame the decline of the Alekwu affinity on foreign culture, with particular reference to Christianity and Westernisation, which they claimed have taken the centrestage in today’s society. Nevertheless, the potency of Alekwu is not in doubt in Idoma land. It is still highly revered and its virtue highly extolled. Indigenes resort to Alekwu’s shrine as the final arbiter to settle scores, when issues become very controversial. “Despite Westernisation, the festival is still celebrated in Orokam every year between the months of July and August. In some parts of Idoma land, the festival is celebrated in early February or March. It is a continuation of our forefathers’ belief,” Idoko stated with pride. In the eyes of Ameh John, a native of Otukpa kingdom, the Alekwu spirits still oversee  the affairs of the people, irrespective of their religious affiliation or modern day life, whether they were at home or in the diaspora. “It is a belief that has come to stay with us. The penalties are not different from what the practice of other religions also entails. Without the Alekwu, our society would become a lawless one,” he maintained.

 twentieth century. The territory was initially known as Munshi Province until 1918 when the name of its dominant geographical feature, the 'Benue River' was adopted.