Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Fresh violence has intensified in Taraba State’s Takum Local Government Area, where Tiv communities have come under sustained attacks over the past several weeks, resulting in significant casualties and deepening fears of escalating insecurity in the region.
According to statements released by community leaders and faith-based organisations, at least 102 people were reportedly killed between early January and early February 2026 in a series of coordinated assaults on Tiv settlements in Chanchanji Ward and surrounding areas. More than 30 others were said to have sustained injuries, while homes, churches and farmlands were destroyed during the attacks.
The Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) disclosed that the violence occurred across multiple incidents within a 33-day span, describing the attacks as systematic and devastating. The group alleged that armed militia elements were responsible for the killings and the burning of several worship centres belonging to the NKST church denomination.
Residents in affected communities have reported recovering multiple corpses following recent incidents, heightening anxiety among villagers who say they are living in fear of further assaults. Some families have reportedly fled their homes, seeking refuge in neighbouring towns and safer districts within the state.
Takum LGA, located in southern Taraba near the border with Benue State, has experienced recurring communal and militia-related violence over the years. The latest wave of attacks has renewed calls for decisive security intervention to prevent further loss of life.
Community representatives have criticised what they describe as slow or insufficient security response, urging both state and federal authorities to deploy additional personnel and intelligence resources to vulnerable areas. They have also appealed for humanitarian assistance for displaced residents whose homes and livelihoods have been affected.
While civil society groups have provided casualty estimates and detailed accounts of the violence, official security agencies have yet to release a comprehensive statement confirming the full extent of the reported fatalities in the most recent incidents. Law enforcement authorities have maintained that operations are ongoing to stabilise the region and restore calm.
Security analysts note that southern Taraba remains susceptible to complex inter-communal tensions and armed incursions, often driven by disputes over land, grazing routes and longstanding ethnic grievances. They warn that without sustained conflict resolution mechanisms and consistent security presence, cycles of reprisal violence may persist.
As investigations continue and security patrols intensify, residents are urging authorities to prioritise civilian protection and accountability for perpetrators. The unfolding situation underscores the broader security challenges facing parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt and North-East corridor, where communal violence continues to claim lives and displace communities.
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