Deadly Surge in Violence: 7 Dead, 340 Homes Razed in Fresh Mambilla-Fulani Clash in Taraba State

JALINGO — A fresh outbreak of ethnic violence between Mambilla residents and Fulani pastoralists on the Mambilla Plateau has left at least seven people dead, 186 livestock killed, and more than 340 homes razed to the ground. The deadly clashes, which erupted across several remote farming and pastoral settlements in the Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, have triggered a severe humanitarian crisis and displaced over 1,000 residents.

The violence reportedly flared following long-standing disputes over land usage, grazing routes, and local resources in the mountainous region. Tensions quickly escalated into coordinated attacks across multiple settlements—including Wuro Buba, Wuro Ardo Bashiru, and neighboring communities in the Geroji area—where attackers set fire to residential structures, grain stores, and livestock pens.

Local leaders and emergency officials confirmed the extensive toll of the three-day conflict. In addition to the confirmed fatalities, dozens of individuals sustained injuries while fleeing into surrounding forests and hills.

Key impacts of the destruction include widespread humanitarian displacement, where over 1,000 community members—predominantly women, children, and the elderly—were rendered homeless, with many seeking refuge in nearby towns or attempting to cross into neighboring Cameroon. In addition, severe livestock and agricultural losses occurred, with at least 186 livestock killed or rustled alongside tonnes of stored harvests and farming tools destroyed. The property damage was equally devastating, leaving more than 340 scattered homesteads burned to ashes and returning residents without basic shelter during the peak of the rainy season.

Community leaders and traditional authorities, including the Chief of Mbamnga, Alhaji Abubakar Saleh, have appealed for urgent government intervention and humanitarian aid, citing a critical shortage of food, clean water, and medical supplies among the displaced population. Local leaders have also urged both ethnic groups to exercise restraint and restore peaceful co-existence to prevent further bloodshed.

Security agencies, including detachment units from the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force, have deployed additional personnel to stabilize the area, enforce curfews, and restore order across the affected settlements. High-level peace talks involving traditional rulers, herder unions, and local farmers are currently being organized to address the underlying catalysts of the violence and prevent a repeat of historical large-scale conflicts in the region.