Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of violence has swept through the Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, as suspected armed militia launched coordinated attacks on at least four farming communities, leaving several people dead, many injured, and hundreds displaced from their homes. The violence, which began on the evening of May 29, 2026, when gunmen ambushed a group of youths returning from watching an English Premier League match at a viewing centre in Didango village, has since spread to Gaita, Loba and Lewatha villages, forcing terrified residents to flee into nearby bushes and abandon their farms on the eve of the harvest season.
According to multiple accounts gathered from local sources, the first assault claimed the lives of two young men who were ambushed on their way home after the match. Within days, the attackers had extended their operations, targeting farmers returning from their fields and residents going about their daily activities. A resident of Didango, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told Daily Trust that the gunmen also ambushed a group of farmers, leaving several people injured before moving on to other communities, where more casualties were recorded. Dauda Bulus, a resident of Mayo-Gauro village, located a few kilometres from Didango, alleged that the attacks were coordinated and carried out by armed militia from a neighbouring community. He said the affected communities had experienced repeated attacks over the years, raising fresh concerns about the security situation in Karim-Lamido.
The attackers did not stop at the initial villages. Witnesses reported that the assaults appeared organised and deliberate, with the attackers moving from one settlement to the next, shooting and attacking people indiscriminately. On Tuesday night, June 2, the gunmen attempted another assault on Gurum village near the Kodai area, but local vigilante groups and community members who had intensified security patrols in response to the recurring violence reportedly repelled the attack, preventing further casualties. The overall situation, however, remained tense, with many residents unsure when it would be safe to return to their homes.
The violence has created a growing humanitarian crisis in an area heavily dependent on farming and livestock. Many farmers have abandoned their farmlands out of fear, leaving crops unattended and threatening future harvests. Abubakar Adamu, another resident of the area, expressed concern about the long‑term implications of the crisis. “The attacks often happen during the farming and harvest seasons, disrupting agricultural activities, which remain the main source of livelihood for many people in the area,” he told Daily Trust. He warned that repeated attacks during critical farming periods could lead to food shortages and economic hardship. “When people are unable to access their farms, their primary source of income and sustenance is lost, which could result in widespread hunger in the coming months,” he added.
The Chairperson of Karim-Lamido Local Government Council, Mrs Virginia Baba Bambur, confirmed the attacks but said calm had returned to the affected communities. She assured residents that the council was working with relevant stakeholders and security agencies to restore lasting peace in the area. “We are working round the clock to ensure that Karim-Lamido remains peaceful,” Bambur said. However, the spokesperson of the Taraba State Police Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said he was unable to immediately obtain a situation report from the Divisional Police Officer in Karim-Lamido due to communication challenges. He said further details would be provided after receiving updates from officers on the ground.
The attacks have drawn attention at the national level. In a motion during plenary on Wednesday, June 3, Rep Mohammed Audu, representing Karim Lamido, Lau and Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency, called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene urgently. Audu warned that the renewed hostilities had compounded an already precarious security situation in Karim Lamido, where communities are also grappling with attacks by bandits operating along border areas linking Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states. He said at least five persons had been confirmed killed, with many injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed. “Over 100 persons in various communities in Karim have been displaced and rendered homeless, exposing them to further attacks while denying them access to potable water and other basic necessities,” Audu told the House. He noted that the victims, predominantly farmers, had lost their means of livelihood as farms, crops and animals were destroyed.
The House subsequently urged security agencies to intensify efforts to restore peace and prevent further loss of lives and property. Lawmakers also called on the Federal Government and humanitarian agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to provide emergency relief, including food, shelter and medical assistance, to displaced families. They stressed the need for a lasting resolution through dialogue, strengthened security presence and sustained peace‑building initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of the recurring clashes.
Karim-Lamido Local Government Area has, over the years, witnessed intermittent communal disputes, often linked to disagreements over land ownership, boundary claims and access to natural resources. The latest violence, however, appears to have targeted specific ethnic settlements, with residents alleging that the attacks were carried out by militia from a neighbouring community as part of a pattern of violence targeting Wurkun settlements. The recurring clashes have continued to undermine peace, security and economic activity in an area already exposed to cross‑border banditry and criminal exploitation of remote rural regions. As displaced families struggle to secure shelter, food, clean water and healthcare, the humanitarian situation is expected to worsen without decisive action.
As of Thursday, June 4, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the exact number of casualties. The exact figure of those killed remains unclear, but residents insist that several people have lost their lives. The attacks have created fear across the affected communities, with many people fleeing their homes and unsure when it would be safe to return.
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