OVER 30 KILLED IN SUSPECTED HERDERS’ ATTACK ON TARABA FARMING COMMUNITY
Read Time:1 Minute, 43 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
At least 30 people have been killed and many others injured in a brutal attack by suspected herders on the farming community of Munga Lelau in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The violence, which erupted following suspicions over missing cattle, quickly escalated into deadly clashes between farmers and herders who had coexisted peacefully for decades. Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, opened fire indiscriminately, and set several buildings ablaze.
Victims of the attack were buried in a mass grave, in line with the community’s tradition for those killed in crisis situations.
Residents described the incident as a betrayal, pointing to long-standing peaceful relations with the Fulani community. One resident, Alpharis Philemon, called the attack “disheartening” and suggested it was part of a wider land-grabbing scheme. “With the rainy season starting, crises like this prevent our people from farming, leaving the land open for grazing,” he said.
Philemon also accused the security forces of failing to respond promptly. “The attack happened just seven minutes from Karim Lamido town, yet the military didn’t show up for over two hours. This raises serious concerns about compromise,” he said.
Chairman of Karim Lamido LGA, Bitrus Danjos, was visibly emotional during the mass burial, calling the attack “barbaric” and lamenting the resort to violence instead of legal avenues for dispute resolution. He noted the vulnerability of the area due to its porous borders with five states — Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Plateau — making it a hotspot for bandit incursions.
Many residents have reportedly been displaced and are now seeking assistance from the government and humanitarian organizations.
In response, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas condemned the attack in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Emmanuel Bello. Describing the assault as “horrendous and unacceptable,” the governor vowed that those responsible would face dire consequences.
Governor Kefas reiterated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding all communities in Taraba from internal and external threats, pledging a stronger security posture in the face of increasing attacks.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0