By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
A mass burial has been conducted for victims of a recent attack on Munga Lelau community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The President of the Bikwin Community Development Union, Comrade Vincent Sani Dadiya, confirmed that the community paid their last respects to no fewer than 30 individuals who lost their lives in the violent onslaught, allegedly carried out by suspected armed herders in the early hours of Saturday.
The attack not only resulted in the tragic loss of lives but also in the destruction of homes and property, deepening fear among residents and casting a dark shadow over the state’s recent investment drive.
James Yohanna, a resident of the area, described the killings as beyond a mere security breach.
“This butchery, where over 40 innocent lives were extinguished, bears the chilling hallmarks of a genocidal act. It demands urgent action from all sectors of society,” he said.
Yohanna stressed that such repeated massacres targeting specific agrarian communities raise serious questions about deliberate and calculated attempts to dispossess indigenous populations.
He called for healing, remembrance, and community mobilization for self-preservation through intelligence sharing, peace committees, and advocacy for safety and justice.
“The resilience of our people is legendary, “but resilience without protection is vulnerability,”he noted,
Another resident, Buba Aliyu, expressed frustration over the timing of the attack, coming shortly after the Taraba International Investment Summit.
“This is the work of saboteurs who seek to undermine our progress. Karim Lamido is ripe for investment, especially in agriculture and solid minerals. This violence is not only unnecessary but a serious setback,” Aliyu said.
He extended condolences to affected families and called on security agencies to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice.
Aliyu criticized the ineffectiveness of elite stakeholders often called during crises, noting that true peacebuilding must involve trusted local leaders familiar with grassroots realities.
“I don’t support retaliation,it worsens the problem. We need lasting solutions through a holistic approach,” he said, urging the government to provide urgent relief to the victims, especially as the area currently lacks representation in the state assembly.
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, through his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Emmanuel Bello, condemned the violence in the strongest terms, describing it as “horrendous and unacceptable.”
He mourned the dead and consoled the bereaved, warning that the aggressors would face dire consequences.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the state, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration, vigilance, and intelligence sharing.
Governor Kefas appealed for calm, urging residents to remain alert and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
Our correspondent recalls that Karim Lamido has recently been plagued by banditry. The latest attack in Munga and Magami villages has left over 30 dead and displaced dozens.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
