Benue
Food Basket of the Nation
Benue State
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Ikwe Resort
The Ikwe Resort is situated at a spot in Igbor where “Mbakyu”, the ancestral spirit of the Ikwe people, is thought to have lived. It is home to a mysterious tunnel believed to be a point of no return to departing spirits, as well as a variety of animals Including antelope, hyenas, snakes, grasscutters and birds of all types. There is also a prehistoric man’s footprint which is, according to local legend, the footprint of a god and thought to bring good luck, health and prosperity to the Ikwe people.
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Ikoyogen Cattle Ranch
The Ikoyogen Cattle Ranch was developed for cattle grazing on the highlands and modelled after the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State. It is located in the Kwande LGA, approximately 35 kilometres east of Adikpo Town. The area is endowed with national beauty and features hills, a unique waterfall, evergreen vegetable orchards and a temperate climate.
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Akate Lake
The Akate Lake is a natural lake of clean water measuring about a kilometre square. It is situated within the town of Katsina-Ala. The lake is the venue of the famous Aketa Fishing Festival which is celebrated every April.
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Anibilla Hills
The hills were named Anibilla by the early Igede settlers. The history of Anibilla hills is closely tied to the culture and traditions of the Igede people.
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Anyaka Holy Ground
The Anyaka Holy Ground features a stream that, according to local legend, possesses magical powers. It is a favourite destination for pilgrims seeking health, wealth and spiritual blessings.
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Gulgur Fall and Beach
The Gulgur Fall is a natural waterfall along the Katsina-Ala River. It is surrounded by luxuriant vegetation and rich aquatic flowers and birds, one of the most magnificent natural scenes along the Nigerian-Cameroonian border.
In the dry season, the water levels in both the Katsina-Ala River and River Benue fall, giving rise to beautiful sandy beaches and clean shallow waters. The Gulgul Fall and beaches are excellent places for recreational boating, swimming and picnicking. -
Jande Dwer Stream
Jande Dwer is a stream that flows for 200 metres in an underground cave before emerging at the surface through a channel. It provides a flourishing natural habitat for terrestrial and aquatic animals.
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Makurdi Beach
Makurdi Beach a man-made beach with palm trees and other vegetation situated on the banks of the River Benue. The beach is suitable for picnics, boat-rides and sightseeing.
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Mela Game Reserve
This is a private game reserve owned by Matthew Mela, a hunter and a lover of nature, which he started in 1963. It is home to monkeys, tortoise, crocodiles, turkeys, guinea fowls and other birds.
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Mkar Hills
Mkar is a spectacular hill formation of two distinct peaks covered in luxuriant vegetation. The twin hills stand at a height between 800 and 1,000 meters above sea level. At their peak is the old residence of a group of Christian missionaries, which is presently used for leadership training by the Boys Brigade, Boy Scouts, National Youth Service Corps and the Man o’War Group.
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Wooded Trench
This deep, trench-like valley is located at Tse Mker, Gboko. Its origins have been lost to history, but it is home to pythons, lions, exotic birds and hyenas.
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The Turan Trench
The trench fortifications in the Turan district of Kwande are a massive man-made earthwork. They were built centuries ago by the Tiv to ward off invasions.
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Vandeikya Rock
The Vandeikya Rock is found in Tarkpo Mbagbera, Vandeikya LGA and is of great historical importance to the local people. The rock formation was known to be a favourable habitat for monkeys of all species (the words “vande” and “ikya” translate to “rock” and “monkeys” respectively).
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National Museum, Makurdi
The National Museum in Makurdi was established in 1989. The museum’s collections include ethnographic, archaeological and contemporary arts. It has a permanent exhibition on people of the lower Benue region.
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J.S. Tarka’s Tomb
Located in Gboko East LGA, the tomb is a monument complex built in honour of J.S. Tarka, a political leader, senator and traditional ruler of Tiv extraction who died in 1979. It is housed within the J.S. Tarka Institute for Political and Strategic Studies.
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Eje-Alekwu Festival
This is a festival celebrated in the Otukpo, Ado and Okpowu LGAs, predominantly Idoma-speaking areas of the state. The celebration period falls between the end of March and beginning of April every year. It is a period when the land's chief priest performs his duty of sacrifice for good yield and the general populace participates in dances and merriment. There is also a communal hunt, with the largest catch usually offered to the god of the land for a good harvest.
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Ujor Festival
This is a festival most popular in the Agila, Utonkon and Igumale areas of the Ado LGA. It is celebrated in September during the New Yam season in commemoration of past war victories recorded by the Idoma people. The celebration features the following cultural dances of the Idoma people: Agba, Atakakpo, Adeigbo Oode and Odabaru. On the eve of the festival, the traditional ruler meets with members of his traditional council in an all-night session to review the activities of the community in the last twelve months.
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Akata Fishing Festival
The Akata Fishing Festival is a celebration of the rich culture of the Tiv people of the state. It is an annual event that is celebrated between the months of March and May and features a competition among Tiv, Etulo and Jukun fishermen. It is held at Lake Akata, which is a stone’s throw from Katsina-Ala (the main town in the area).
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Igede Agba Festival
The Igede Agba is a celebration of the new yam by the Igede people of the state. It is usually held during the first week of September every year.
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Kwagh-Hir Festival
This is a puppet festival that dramatises the folklore of the Tiv people through the use of masquerades, puppets and marionettes. It usually takes place during the dry season (October to April) and in December. The narratives are a means of handing down opinions, beliefs and customs to younger generations and offer visual metaphors for understanding and resolving social conflicts.
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Mzough U Tiv (Tiv National Day)
This is an annual festival celebrated by the Tiv people in Gboko, the centre of Tiv land and home of the traditional seat. Tiv sons and daughters all over the globe are required to travel to Gboko for reunions, discussions on development, progress of the Tiv nation and other related issues. It is a week-long celebration that includes a showcase of the Tiv’s rich and colourful traditional fabrics.
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Ivom Festival
This is a prestigious marriage dance festival, which is celebrated by the Tiv people. Each member of a particular age group strives to out-dance his mates. It usually takes place between January and April.
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Biem and Toho Yilan
This is a festival of hunting games that takes place among the Tiv people. It is usually accompanied by various dances and takes place from December to April.
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