In a chilling escalation of violence in Taraba State, North-East Nigeria, suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly midnight raid on Saturday, killing over 42 people in the Munga Lalau and Munga Doso communities of Karim-Lamido Local Government Area.
According to multiple local sources, the attackers—estimated at more than 50—stormed the sleeping villages around 2:00 a.m., riding motorcycles and firing indiscriminately at helpless residents. The attackers left behind a trail of death, destruction, and despair.
“I survived by a miracle,” said Aliyu Buba, a resident of Munga Lalau. “They came like shadows—over 50 of them, shooting anything that moved. I ran into the bush and hid till dawn.”
By Saturday afternoon, a soldier involved in the rescue and recovery operations confirmed that 42 lifeless bodies had been pulled from the rubble, while several others remain missing. The death toll is expected to rise as search efforts continue.
The aftermath was equally harrowing, as villagers conducted mass burials amid wailing, disbelief, and unanswered questions.
“They didn’t spare even the children. We counted 42 corpses before noon. It’s the most gruesome thing I’ve seen,” the soldier added.
Reacting to the bloodbath, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, expressed outrage and sorrow. Through his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Emmanuel Bello, the governor vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
“These heinous acts of violence will not go unpunished. The government is taking swift action to ensure that the criminals responsible face the full weight of the law,” Kefas declared.
Recurring Nightmare
The Karim-Lamido massacre is the latest in a troubling pattern of violence in Taraba State, where ethnic tensions, land disputes, and systemic insecurity have fueled relentless bloodshed over the years.
In 2018, over 50 people were slain in herder-farmer clashes in Lau and Wukari LGAs.
In 2019, communal unrest in Donga and Takum led to dozens of deaths and mass displacement.
In 2021, armed militias descended on Ussa LGA, killing at least 15 people.
In 2023, coordinated attacks in Bali and Gassol LGAs left more than 70 villagers dead.
Despite efforts by both state and federal authorities, including military deployments and peace-building initiatives, the violence continues to spiral.
Residents of Karim-Lamido are now calling for immediate government intervention, intensified security patrols, and long-term solutions to the recurring violence.
“This is no longer about land or cattle. It’s a war on innocent people,” said Vincent Dadiya, another survivor. “If this government can’t protect us, who will?”
As dusk falls once more over Taraba’s grieving communities, fear hangs heavy in the air—and hope for peace remains agonizingly distant.
PIONEER NEWS 