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From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Armed Fulani herdsmen recently launched a number of gruesome attacks on farming communities in different parts of Taraba State and left pain, sorrow and devastation in the communities.
The first of the attacks occurred on October 3, 3025, and subsequent attacks came on October 7, 8, 9, 11 and 16, 2025.
In all, over 50 people were reportedly killed during the attacks, while hundreds of victims were either injured or displaced. This is apart from their belongings that were destroyed and their homes and heritage that were sacked.
The victims, made up of male, female, women and even minors, were temporarily sheltered in makeshift locations in nearby settings, with some of them residing at Beranda Market, in Amadu town, and others staying at the Catholic Church along Chanchanji Tukur Road in Tukun town.
District head of Mberev, in Takum LGA, Simon Terhemba, informed Daily Sun that the displaced were living in unsavory conditions, worrying that they suffer now from starvation and are exposed to diseases and possible attacks from the same assailants who wreaked havoc on them:
“It all started with the herdsmen invading the villagers’ farms and destroying their crops. I told my people not to confront them. Instead, we reported the matter to the local vigilance group and to the Nigeria Police. And the herdsmen in question were made to pay compensation for the destruction that was caused by their cows.
“Unfortunately, we noticed that anyone paid compensation was later targeted and killed. We suspected foul play. And so I told my people to stop receiving the compensation completely.”
Eighty-two-year-old Mama Martina Yev testified that they were attacked by herders, while lamenting that they killed her only grandson. Yev, who lives in Amadu village, recalled that her only surviving and beloved grandson was hacked to death, right in her presence and in spite of her fervent pleas to his killers:
“I had five children, but all of them died when they were quite young. It was only one of my late sons that gave birth to my only grandson, a son who took care of me in my old age. He was the only real family I had left- only him and the people in my Church.
“On the fateful day, he had gone to the farm, leaving me at home. Everything was normal. But suddenly I heard people shouting and screaming hysterically and I jumped out from the kitchen where I was cooking. That was the beginning of my tragedy.
“As I leaped out, I saw our people running in different directions; they were screaming that there was an attack by herdsmen. Almost immediately, I started out too, running towards the farm so that I would join my grandson in the farm.
“By a stroke of accident, he was also running back home to fetch me. We met at a point and he quickly decided to pick me up and run with me. But I begged him to put me down and run for his own life. He refused, insisting that he won’t let anything happen to me. He eventually became an easy target to reach since my weight slowed him down his pace.
“Eventually, the blood thirsty herders caught up with us, cutting him with cutlasses, but he held on to me until he fell down and bled to death while I watched helplessly, at a close range. I pleaded with them not to kill him; to kill me instead, but they just did their worst and went away.”
Her tragic story chronicles the experiences of a number of families who had lost their beloved ones to the heartless killings. Many lost not just lives but everything. They are broken, uncertain about the future and unsure of their next moves.
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According to the Catholic Bishop of Wukari Diocese, Bishop Mark Nzukein, over 335 Catholic Churches have been destroyed in the Diocese and over 80,000 Catholic members have been displaced since 2015 or there about.
He told Daily Sun that, “What is happening in this axis is quite unfortunate and tragic. For sometimes now, suspected Fulani terrorists have launched attacks on peaceful farming communities in this area, spanning over 300 communities, with devastating impacts.
“The number of displaced persons and those taking refuge across various locations in the state is quite staggering. I don’t know why they kept targeting this axis in Takum. I don’t know what they are looking for. They are not neighbors to the farming communities. This is harvest time and then you have people launching attacks to kill and destroy their homes and farms,” he lamented.
He went on, “We have reported this to the military, but most times they just go to the villages and flash and leave. You will understand with them to some extent because sometimes they are not as well – equipped and lacked the numbers to confront the attackers, who strike in their numbers and often heavily armed. We have lost over 300 communities and Churches in this current crisis alone.
“We call on the government to come to our aid…..The displaced people not only feel that they are suffering for no wrong of theirs, but they also feel that governments, at all levels, have turned a blind eye to their circumstances and plights” he stated.
Paul Tyo, the District Head of Mbatyula in Chanchanji Ward, in Takum town told Daily Sun that leaders from the farming communities had made several efforts to reach the outgoing LGA Chairman, John Ali, but he had refused to see them on this matter.
According to him, “It is only the police that had tried to intervene, to halt these attacks. Yes sometimes, they come to the affected villages, but it is usually after the attacks had finished their execution. He also stated that no agency of government or any NGO have come to assist them with relief materials or with even food stuff for the tragic victim.
“We have lost everything, including our loved ones. Yet, we are left to our fate as if we don’t have a government. We are not beggars or lazy people. We are hardworking farmers and can take care of ourselves” he remarked.
“All we want is for the government to guarantee our security. We can go back to our communities and pick the pieces of our lives again. But this has become a circle. We are tired. We are broken. We are being pushed to the wall” he stated.
The Commissioner of Police, Taraba State, Betty Otimenyin told Daily Sun by phone that the police was doing everything possible to contain the situation adding that they recently convened a meeting with the leaders of the farming communities and the Fulani people.
According to him, “What you need to understand is that this is not a crisis between two communities with a clear war front, where you can send men to separate. This is a matter of people coming to attack and retreat. You don’t know when they are coming, where they are coming from or where they will retreat to. And so it is very difficult” he stated.
“You cannot have men stationed all over the place. It is just not possible. We are talking about hundreds of communities. You cannot cover all of them. Most times, when we get information of attack and rush, we would not meet the attackers. They would have done the damage and retreated” he added.
“This crisis is not something new. It has been going on for decades. It will take more than just the police to tackle it” he affirmed
“Our major concern now is to intensify surveillance to know where they are coming from and to prevent them or to know where they retreat to and confront them there. That is what we are working on” he stated.
“The police sympathize with the victims and I want to state clearly that there is no police officer who is so unscrupulous as to conspire with non- state actors to create insecurity and cause mayhem” he concluded.
