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By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
More than 1,000 persons have been rendered homeless following a bloody clash between the tribes of Mambilla and Fulani herders across Geroji settlements in Mbamnga ward of Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.
About 340 houses have been burnt down, with the victims mostly children, women and the elderly fleeing to neighboring Republic of Cameroun and nearby communities for refuge.
An unverified number of people, including personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) were said to have been killed in the conflict while several others have gone missing, according to community leaders.
Ardo Bashiru, one of the community leaders who spoke to journalists during a visit to the area disclosed that a number of livestock including cattle and sheep have either been killed or rustled.
Bashiru said that several families were facing serious humanitarian crisis as more than 340 houses scattered across the mountainous and difficult terrain of Geroji and Mbara were completely destroyed.
“Tonnes of food stuff and other means of livelihood have been completely destroyed in the conflict that lasted for about three days from September 16, 2026,” the community leader lamented.
He appealed for urgent intervention from governments, individuals and humanitarian agencies as the rainy season which is at its peak, is taking a toll on the affected people. He said that the victims had lost everything in the ensuing conflict leaving them with no shelter, no food and no clothing.
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The most affected settlements include Wuro Buba, Wuro Ardo Bashiru, Wuro wakili Idrisa, Wuro saleh Petel, Wuro Hassan Jaji, Wuro Alhaji Jibo, Wuro Alhaji Manu and Wuro Mbarkal, all of them in the Gereuji community around Mbamnga area.
Chairman of the local government, Mohammed Umar, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Gembu, headquarters of the council area, said that the conflict started from a fight between two individuals, a man of Mambilla origin and a Fulani man on the farm.
Mohammed who described the incident as unfortunate, warned that anyone found disturbing the peaceful coexistence enjoyed by the residents would face the full wrath of the law. He said the state government has facilitated the full deployment of security forces to the troubled areas.
He disclosed that arrangements have been completed for the repatriation of refugees who fled to Nyang, Donga-Mantung Division located in the Northwest part of Cameroun.
The chairman appealed for assistance from governments, stakeholders and humanitarian agencies to come up with interventions to help in resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the displaced communities.
Also speaking, Chief of Mbamnga Alhaji Abubakar Saleh also appealed for calm and called for unity among the people whom described as brothers and sisters that have lived in harmony for decades.
He assured that all hands were on deck to ensure that such conflicts, the first in his domain, did not happen again. A similar violence took place across the Mambilla Plateau in 2017 and 2018 when hundreds of lives and property were lost.
