By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Catholic Church has called on the Federal Government and Taraba state authorities to rise up to their responsibilities and halt the renewed wave of violent attacks and destructions being visited on many Communities by suspected killer- herdsmen in the Southern part of the State.
This is as the Tiv community in the State, decried the displacement of no fewer than 1000 families, and destruction of properties and farmlands worth several millions of naira by some terrorist elements in the last one week.
At an interactive session with the media on Monday, October 10, 2025 in Jalingo, the State Capital, the Director of Social Communication for the Catholic Diocese of Wukari, Rev Father John Laikel, described as disheartening and devastating, the spate of killings ongoing in many of the Communities under the Diocese.
According to him, many members of the Catholic family have been forced to abandon their homes and means of livelihood, owing to the orgy of violent attacks and killings being unleashed on them.
” It is disheartening that attacks on innocent citizens keep happening despite Government promises to stop the development.
“The pattern of attacks in Southern Taraba shows a deliberate and calculated attempt by Fulani herdsmen to permanently take over these communities for grazing.
“Most victims are returnees who have only recently resettled after earlier displacement”, he stated .
Fr Laikel noted that the attackers, after razing homes and destroying properties of their victims, proceed to be grazing on the farmlands, a development which he insisted, is glaringly suggestive of the devilish intention to occupy the Communities permanently.
He, therefore, urged the authorities, both at the state and Federal levels to wake up to their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of the citizens.
The Catholic spokesperson further lamented the nonchalant and even compromising attitude of security agencies in combating insecurity in the affected Communities.
According to him, most of the attacks and killings occur despite the people duly informing security operatives before hand
” When we alert security agencies,they often complain about lack of adequate personnel and logistics.
” Meanwhile, innocent people are being killed daily, villages are being burnt, and survivors are left with horrific injuries. It is heartbreaking to see such disregard for human life”, Rev Father George Dogo, the Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, Takum, noted.
The Taraba Tiv Youth Development Forum, in a statement jointly issued by Torkuma Lupet Moses and Uko Moses Wuaga, President and Secretary, respectively, called on the Federal Government, in conjunction with the Taraba State authorities to urgently consider the establishment of more military and other security outposts in the affected communities to arrest the senseless attacks and killings of innocent citizens.
The Forum similarly urged the authorities to put adequate machineries in place to halt the incessant conflicts between farmers and herders in Taraba state .
“We also call on the Government to arrest the perpetrators of the violence and killings and their sponsors to face justice.
“Governor Agbu Kefas should facilitate a peace summit between Tiv and Fulani leaders to address lingering grievances”, the Forum stated .
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
