By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Rampaging Fulani militia, on Saturday and Sunday morning, attacked communities in Takum and Donga Local Government Areas of Taraba State, killing no fewer than 15 persons.
Survivors told PERISCOPE NIGERIA that the gunmen invaded Abeda community in Donga LGA on Saturday evening, killing 11 persons.
According to them, the attackers later extended their operations to Mberev community in Takum LGA, where four persons were confirmed killed, while many others remain missing.
Mr Terhemba Tor, a survivor, said the attackers arrived heavily armed and opened fire indiscriminately.
“It started suddenly. We heard gunshots and people began to run in different directions. Before we knew it, many of our people had been killed and houses were burning. Abeda and Gbundu communities are empty now,” he narrated.
Another resident, Ornguga Aondo, said the assailants also targeted places of worship, worsening the trauma of survivors.
“They burnt our church and several compounds. This is how they have been attacking communities in the Takum area, not far from us here, since September last year,” he lamented.
In Mberev community of Takum LGA, Tersoo Iorfa, who spoke from a place of refuge in Peva town, confirmed that four people were killed, while many others fled into nearby bushes.
“We saw them; they are Fulanis. They came shooting and shouting in the Fulani language. We lost four people here, and many houses were set on fire. We ran with our children. Some people are still missing,” he said.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the latest killings have added to the grim toll in southern Taraba, where suspected Fulani militia have sacked more than 95 Tiv-dominated communities across Takum, Donga, and neighbouring areas since September 2025, displacing an estimated 400,000 people.
A community leader from Donga, Aondohemba Avaungwa, said the attacks followed a familiar pattern.
“They come, kill our people, burn our homes, and occupy the land. This has been going on for months.
“Most of us are now in Peva and Amadu towns with nothing—no food, no shelter. Our farms are gone. Hunger is now killing us slowly,” he lamented.
Other residents who spoke to our correspondent appealed to both the state and federal governments to urgently deploy security forces to the affected areas and end what they described as “silent killings” of Tiv people in the southern part of Taraba State.
When contacted, the Taraba State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Victor Mshelizah, promised to get back to our correspondent but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
Former president, Gen. Sani Abacha once said, if any crisis lingers for more than 24 hours, the government of the land has a hand in it. May God give you understanding.