A fresh clash between Mambilla tribe and Fulani has left at least seven people dead, 186 livestock killed and over 340 homes razed in Taraba State.
According to Dailly Trust reports, the incident happened at Geroji, 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.
Daily Trust sources said 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 Daily Trust 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.
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