Catholic clergy and community leaders in Southern Taraba State have raised urgent concerns over escalating violence attributed to armed Fulani herdsmen, resulting in deaths, displacements, and the abandonment of rural parishes within the Catholic Diocese of Wukari.
Rev. Fr. John Laikel, Director of Social Communications for the diocese, addressed the crisis during a press briefing in Jalingo on Monday, labeling the assaults as "devastating."
He highlighted that sustained attacks have forced the evacuation of numerous villages, with returnees facing renewed threats."Despite government assurances to halt the killings, innocent citizens continue to suffer," Fr. Laikel stated.
"The attacks in Southern Taraba appear orchestrated to seize communities for grazing purposes. Herdsmen not only kill and raze homes but also allow cattle to feed on victims' farmlands and occupy abandoned settlements."
He emphasized the proximity of affected areas to military bases in Takum Local Government Area, questioning the effectiveness of security forces.
"Authorities must fulfill their duty to protect lives and property—this proximity underscores doubts about their commitment and capacity to end the violence," he added.
Echoing these sentiments, Rev. Fr. George Dogo, Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Takum, criticized security agencies for alleged inaction despite prior alerts.
"Officials cite shortages of personnel or fuel, yet daily killings, burnings, and severe injuries persist," Fr. Dogo said.
"This indifference to human suffering is profoundly disturbing."The Taraba Tiv Youth Development Forum has also condemned the assaults on Tiv farming communities, reporting over 1,000 families displaced and millions of naira in property losses since the violence reignited last week in Chanchanji Ward, Takum LGA.
In a statement by President Torkuma Lupet Moses and Secretary Uko Moses Wuaga, the forum called on Governor Agbu Kefas to deploy extra security personnel, establish new military outposts, and supply emergency aid including food, medicine, and shelter.
The group demanded the arrest and prosecution of attackers and their backers, while urging a peace summit between Tiv and Fulani leaders to resolve underlying issues.
They further appealed to the Federal Government and international partners to prioritize Taraba under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to mitigate herder-farmer clashes.
