Jalingo, Suspected Fulani militia have reportedly seized control of multiple villages in the Chanchanji district of Takum Local Government Area, killing scores of residents, displacing survivors, and destroying homes, farmlands, and religious sites in a series of sustained assaults.
Community leaders and the Northern Christians Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) described the violence as a targeted campaign against Tiv Christian settlements, with attacks escalating dramatically in recent weeks despite repeated distress calls to authorities.
According to Rev. Dr. Micah Philip Dopah, a community elder and Taraba State Chairman of NOCRELA, the group documented at least 102 deaths ,and over 31 injuries. between January 2 and February 3, 2026, across no fewer than ten coordinated attacks. Many victims were women, children, and the elderly, with several families completely wiped out.
“These killings are horrific and unacceptable,” Dopah stated in a formal condemnation released by NOCRELA. “Suspected Fulani militia have brutally targeted Tiv Christians and NKST churches, burning down structures and forcing mass displacement. How can ten deadly attacks occur in just 33 days without decisive intervention?”
Local elders interviewed described a dire situation that has persisted for about two years but intensified recently. One elder, speaking anonymously, said: “Fulani herdsmen have been attacking us, destroying properties and killing people. In the last month alone, we’ve identified numerous corpses, with others still missing. Out of about 36 churches in the community, only two remain standing , many were burnt, and survivors fled for safety.”
Residents allege that attackers have occupied abandoned homes and farmlands, making it unsafe for displaced persons to return. They further accused the state government and security agencies of ignoring pleas for help, with one elder claiming officials responded indifferently to notifications.
NOCRELA emphasized that the attacks appear deliberate, aimed at disrupting Tiv livelihoods and church activities. The assembly called on the Taraba State government and federal security forces to urgently deploy personnel to vulnerable areas, apprehend perpetrators, and ensure prosecution to prevent further escalation.
The group extended condolences to victims’ families, the NKST Church, and injured survivors, while praying for healing and restoration.
This incident highlights ongoing communal tensions in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where farmer-herder clashes and militia violence have claimed numerous lives in recent years. Authorities have yet to issue an official response to the latest
The Daily Frontier and other sources continue to monitor developments in the affected communities.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
