The Holy Family Catholic Parish in Takum, Taraba State, has raised alarm over a new wave of attacks by suspected herders on several farming communities in the area, resulting in the destruction of farmlands and the displacement of hundreds of residents.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Parish Council said the renewed violence had affected communities including Tse-Aduga, Chachanji, and Kpambo, where gunmen allegedly invaded villages, burnt homes, and destroyed crops ready for harvest. The church described the attacks as “persistent, coordinated, and devastating,” urging both state and federal authorities to intervene urgently.
“The level of destruction and suffering is heartbreaking,” the parish statement read. “Many families have fled their homes, sleeping in open fields and church premises, while their farmlands—representing months of labour—have been reduced to ashes.”
Residents who spoke to journalists said the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the villages at night, shooting sporadically and setting houses on fire. Community leaders confirmed that several people sustained injuries, while others remain missing after fleeing into nearby forests.
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Rev. Fr. John Iorliam, the parish priest, appealed for immediate security deployment and humanitarian assistance for affected residents. “We are calling on the government to act before this situation escalates further. People are hungry, frightened, and homeless. It’s a humanitarian crisis unfolding before our eyes,” he said.
Local sources reported that displaced persons have taken refuge in churches, schools, and neighboring villages. Relief materials such as food, bedding, and medical supplies are urgently needed, as the rainy season has worsened living conditions for those in temporary shelters.
The Taraba State Police Command confirmed awareness of the attacks, stating that patrol teams have been deployed to restore calm in the affected areas. Police spokesperson DSP Usman Abdullahi said investigations are ongoing and that security agencies are working closely with community leaders to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations and religious bodies in the state have called on the federal government to strengthen border patrols and address the root causes of the recurring farmer-herder clashes in the region.
The renewed violence in Takum underscores growing insecurity in Taraba’s border communities, where similar attacks have disrupted livelihoods and forced thousands to flee over the past year.