Fresh attacks claim lives in Taraba communities despite peace efforts

Renewed communal clashes in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State have claimed several lives, weeks after a committee set up by Governor Agbu Kefas submitted its report on the lingering crisis.

The violence, which happened last week, was reportedly sparked by a farmland ownership dispute between the Shomo and Wurkun in Usmanu village has forced residents to flee, leaving once-bustling settlements deserted.

Eyewitnesses described the attacks as devastating. “I saw more than 30 bodies on the ground. At night, the attackers returned. People ran for their lives. There were no security agents to protect us,” one resident said, appealing for the governor to visit personally.

The Karim Lamido representative in the State House of Assembly, Abner Shittu, said, “The governor is doing his best, but our people must also act to restore peace.”

Stakeholders called for urgent government intervention to prevent escalation into a wider ethnic conflict involving the Wurkun, Shomo, and Karimjo communities.

They demanded an independent investigation into the causes of the crisis, accountability for security personnel, and punishment for those responsible for killings and arson.

The Taraba State Police Command confirmed that normalcy is gradually returning.

Police spokesperson, ASP Victor Mshelizah, noted ongoing patrols, but residents warned that armed militias still harass people, especially at night.

The chairperson of Karim Lamido LGA, Virginia Baba Bambur, urged communities to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue. “Constructive discussions and collaboration are crucial for lasting peace and progress,” she said.

The curfew imposed in Karim Lamido town and more than ten other villages has been relaxed.

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