A fresh clash between Mambilla residents and Fulani pastoralists has left at least seven people dead, 186 livestock killed and over 340 homes razed in Taraba State.

The incident, which happened in Geroji settlements of Mbamnga ward, Sardauna Local Government Area, also displaced more than 1,000 residents.

Residents and community leaders say the death toll could be higher as dozens of persons remain missing.

According to sources, the clash erupted penultimate Friday night following a dispute between a Mambilla woman and a Fulani man. The violence subsequently spread to Geroji and Mbara communities as well as some settlements including Wuro Buba, Wuro Ardo Bashiru, Wuro Wakili Idrisa, Wuro Saleh Petel, Wuro Hassan Jaji, Wuro Alhaji Jibo, Wuro Alhaji Manu and Wuro Mbarkal.

Speaking to our correspondent, one of the community leaders, Ardo Bashiru, said, “We have lost everything. Our houses were burnt, our livestock – cattle, sheep and horses – were either dead or stolen. With the rainy season at its peak, we are facing a humanitarian crisis. We have no shelter, no food and no means of survival.”

Another source, who pleaded anonymity, said hundreds of residents, including women and children, fled the settlements and crossed into the neighboring Republic of Cameroon, seeking refuge in Nyang, Donga‑Mantung Division.

He said an unidentified group entered the village, opened fire on residents and set many structures ablaze, resulting in loss of life and property.

When contacted, the Chairman of the Sardauna LGA, Alhaji Mohammed Umar, confirmed that many residents fled but arrangements are under way to repatriate the displaced people.

Umar also revealed that security forces had been fully deployed to the affected area.

“This unfortunate incident started from a personal dispute that spiraled out of control. Anyone who threatens the peace that our communities have enjoyed for decades will face the full force of the law,” he said.

The chairman said that the state government had mobilised additional troops and police to prevent further escalation.

He appealed for immediate assistance from federal authorities, non‑governmental organisations and the international community to support resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims.

Also, Alhaji Abubakar Saleh, Chief of Mbamnga, called for calm and unity among the warring parties.

“We are brothers and sisters who have lived together for generations. This is the first time such a tragedy would strike our land. All hands are on deck to ensure it never happens again,” he asserted.

A public affairs analyst, Alhaji Ahmadu Ibrahim of Sociology Department, Yobe State University, said the loss of 186 livestock, a vital source of income and food for the predominantly agrarian community, deepened the crisis.

“First, the destruction of 340 homes in the hard‑to‑reach mountainous region leaves thousands without shelter, and the loss of 186 livestock has left hundreds of families without food.

“I, therefore, called on the government to quickly intervene to address the issue before it escalated, adding up to the already existing insecurity bedeviling the state and the entire region,” he said.

He warned that without swift, coordinated intervention, the cycle of retaliation could reignite, appealing to relevant aid agencies to intervene.

*Police, army deploy joint team

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Command and the Nigerian Army said they had deployed a joint security team to assess the devastation and restore order.

A statement by the police command said, “Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Edwin Ogbeghagha, alongside the Brigade Commander, Nigerian Army, and other security personnel, undertook an on-the-spot assessment of the affected area to gain first-hand knowledge of the situation and engage relevant stakeholders on measures to restore lasting peace and security in the area.

“During the assessment, extensive discussions were held on strengthening security operations, improving intelligence gathering and ensuring the sustained protection of lives and property. The CP assured residents that the security agencies are working jointly and remain committed to restoring peace and preventing further attacks.

“The Command further assures the people of Sardauna LGA that, with additional security manpower and a police helicopter for enhanced aerial surveillance provided by the Nigeria Police Air Wing, in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu psc NPM, security operations will be intensified across the affected areas.”

Ogbegahgah urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, assuring them that the police and other security agencies are taking the necessary steps to restore normalcy. He also called on the people to provide timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending those responsible for acts of violence.

He appealed to the Taraba State Government, traditional institutions, community leaders and members of the public to strengthen their support and cooperation with security agencies, stressing that lasting peace could only be achieved through collective responsibility and sustained collaboration.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary, Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Echuseh Audu, has announced the dispatch of a humanitarian assistance package containing food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter for affected families within the first 48 hours.

*A pattern of recurring violence

The latest incident follows a series of communal clashes on the Mambilla Plateau. In 2017 and 2018, similar confrontations resulted in hundreds of deaths and the loss of property valued at hundreds of millions of naira.

Earlier this year, in May, a separate feud between Wurkum, Karimjo and herders and the Bandawa tribe in Karim‑Lamdo LGA claimed more than 20 lives and displaced dozens of families.

The displaced residents of Geroji have remained in temporary shelters in Cameroon, hoping to return home once security is restored and reconstruction begins.

Sardauna LGA has historically been a flashpoint for communal clashes and cattle rustling, often exacerbated by porous borders with neighbouring Cameroon and limited policing resources.

While the exact motive behind the Mbamnga attack is still unclear, authorities suspect the involvement of organised armed groups operating in the region’s hinterland.

*Ex-envoy warns against renewed bloodshed

A former Nigerian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Hassan Jika Ardo, appealed to residents of the Mambilla Plateau to embrace peace and refrain from actions capable of escalating tensions in the area.

Ardo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, in a statement, called on the Mambillas, Fulanis, Kakas, Pansos and other ethnic groups in the area to sheathe their swords, tolerate one another and work together for the development of Mambilla Plateau.

In the statement signed by Sulaiman Ibrahim Ahmed, spokesperson of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha Campaign Council, Ardo said the Mambilla Plateau had suffered enough from bloodshed and destruction of property in the past.

The former ambassador said lasting peace and development could only be achieved through collective efforts of the people, noting that no community could make meaningful progress in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.

Ardo also commended residents of Mbar for what he described as an act of brotherliness and solidarity when some Mambillas reportedly shielded Fulani residents from assailants during the crisis.

He said the gesture reflected the spirit of coexistence for which the Mambilla Plateau is known.

The diplomat further urged the government and security agencies operating in the area to intensify efforts towards the speedy restoration of peace.

He appealed to all parties involved in the crisis to de-escalate tensions by moderating their rhetoric. Ardo also cautioned politicians against playing politics with the lives and property of residents, saying such actions were detrimental to peaceful coexistence and ultimately served no one.

*Gov orders arrest of perpetrators, postpones tourism day

In a move to restore law and order following the violent clashes, Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has ordered security agencies to immediately apprehend and prosecute everyone linked to the unrest, emphasising that no one will be shielded from the law regardless of their social standing or political status.

The governor gave the order in a statement by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Gebon Timothy Kataps.

The governor urged the security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in identifying the masterminds and foot soldiers behind the bloodshed in the Sardauna Local Government Area.

“All perpetrators of this dastardly act, no matter how highly placed, must be fished out, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Gov Kefas said.

He expressed grief over the loss of lives and property during the communal crisis, describing the violence as a setback to the peace and unity being fostered across the state.

As a mark of respect for the victims and to prioritise the security of lives, the Taraba State government announced the postponement of the Taraba Tourism Day celebration.

The event was originally scheduled to take place in Gembu, the headquarters of Sardauna LGA, but had been postponed indefinitely until peace was fully restored.

The state government, however, assured residents that the security situation in the affected communities is under control.

The Executive Secretary Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) Echuseh Audu, pledged support, announcing the dispatch of a humanitarian assistance package containing food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter for affected families.

*Stakeholders appeal for calm

Also, key stakeholders and community leaders in the Sardauna LGA of Taraba State have strongly appealed for peace, urging residents to sheath their swords.

The appeal was contained in a statement last Wednesday by the Chairman of the Sardauna Local Government Stakeholders Forum, Mr. Timothy Kataps.

Mr. Kataps, who also serves as the Secretary to the Taraba State Government (SSG), noted that the forum received reports of the clash with deep concern.

He emphasised the urgent need for harmony across ethnic and religious lines.

“As elders and leaders of Sardauna LGA, we unequivocally appeal to all our people, regardless of tribe or faith to exercise calm, restraint, and avoid any act or statement capable of escalating tension,” the statement read.

The forum further mobilised community gatekeepers, calling directly on traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, and youth coordinators to actively rein in their subjects, wards, and followers, to prioritise dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution.

Highlighting the long-standing history of peaceful coexistence in the region, the chairman warned against the dangers of misinformation.

“Anger and rumour must not destroy the decades of brotherhood we have built,” he cautioned.

While suing for peace, the stakeholders adopted a firm stance against criminality, making it clear that lawlessness would not be condoned under any guise.

According to the forum, security agencies have been promptly notified, and tactical personnel have already been deployed to the area to restore normalcy.

Unresolved disputes, impunity fuelling recurring violence – Analysts

A former diplomat and columnist, Ilyasu Gadu, has attributed the recurring clashes between the Mambila ethnic group and Fulani communities in Taraba State to unresolved disputes over land, grazing rights and the rights of indigenous farmers.

Gadu, who spoke on the recent crisis on the Mambilla Plateau, said the conflict was not new but had recurred over the years because authorities had failed to address its underlying causes.

“Let us delve into the history, because the history will provide a better perspective and give us a better trajectory on how and when these things are occurring. Let me just say that this is not the first time it is happening.

“It’s been happening recurrently over the years. It subsides, and then something happens, and then it resolves. So, what is happening now is not a new thing. But basically and fundamentally, it has to do with the issues between the Mambila people and the Fulani herdsmen, the indigenous people of that area,” he said.

Gadu said the expansion of Fulani settlements around areas including Nguroje, Mayo Hassan and a lot of settlements had also contributed to tensions, particularly as questions over demarcation and land use remained unresolved.

“In the past, it was never a problem because there were appropriate grazing lands mapped out for the Fulani. The issue between the herders, in this case the Fulani, and the Mambilas has remained unresolved over the years. So, once there is a small crisis between them, it erupts and leads to what we are seeing now,” he said.

Gadu cited previous outbreaks of violence, including those in 2007, 2012 and 2017, as evidence that the fundamental issues had not been settled.

“It shows that the issues have not really been resolved. And the issues have to do with the rights of both parties: the rights of the herders and the rights of the farmers,” he said.

He blamed governments at the local, state and federal levels for what he described as failure to tackle the roots of the conflict.

“Whenever these conflicts happen, there will be a lot of statements and eventually temporary solutions are found. So, really, we have the government at all levels not really going to the roots of it,” he added.

He said authorities needed the political will to prosecute those responsible, irrespective of their identity or affiliation.

Gadu also warned that the approaching political season could create additional risks if politicians exploited the crisis for political advantage.

A social commentator from Mambila Plateau, Jamilu Muhammad, identified impunity, unemployment, poor education and the unresolved farmer-herder crisis as major factors behind the recurring violence between Mambila communities and Fulani in the area.

Muhammad said the conflict should not be viewed solely from an ethnic perspective, arguing that farmer-herder tensions were a wider regional problem affecting countries including Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

“While people may look at it from an ethnic perspective, there is the issue of the farmer-herder crisis, and that is engulfing not only Nigeria. That issue is in Cameroon; it is in the Central African Republic.

“So, it is an endemic issue within the region. How governments will come together and tackle it, I think it is a multinational issue,” he said.

He said one of the factors encouraging the recurrence was what he described as the failure to arrest and prosecute those responsible for previous violence.

Muhammad also referenced a 2024 judgement of the ECOWAS Court concerning victims of the 2017 violence, saying it had yet to be implemented.

“Part of the judgement is that the people that were affected, the victims, should be resettled. Those that are in neighbouring countries like Cameroon should be brought back, resettled on their lands and they should be compensated,” he said.

He added that the judgement also required the federal government to establish a committee of investigation to identify those responsible for the violence.

“And to this moment, the judgement is lying there. No one has implemented it. No one has been arrested. No one has been prosecuted,” Muhammad said.

He identified unemployment as another factor that needed urgent attention, warning that the crisis could continue if underlying economic problems were ignored.

“Most of the people going into violence, perpetrating this thing, you will find most of them poorly educated. They do not understand the social systems we practise,” he said. (Daily Trust)