Catholic priests, religious leaders and faithful from the dioceses of Wukari and Jalingo on Thursday staged a peaceful protest in Jalingo, the state capital condemning the continued mass killings of farmers in parts of Takum, Donga and Ussa local government councils of Taraba State.
Carrying placards of various inscriptions, the protesters expressed frustration over what they described as the seeming indifference of relevant authorities.
The protest, tagged a “solidarity walk,” was held to draw attention to attacks on communities in Chanchanji Ward of Takum, where the worst of the violence occurred.
The area has recorded over 80 deaths within 90 days, according to church sources, while thousands have been displaced and properties destroyed.
Speaking, Very Rev. Fr. James Yaro, Vicar Pastoral of the Catholic Diocese of Wukari, noted that the attacks had resulted in the destruction of more than 200 churches and communities. He added that the violence was a direct violation of the constitutional right to freedom of religion of affected residents.
Fr. Yaro said the crisis, which he claimed began in September 2025, had left more than 90,000 Catholics displaced across the region.
He accused suspected Fulani militia of carrying out the attacks, often arriving in the early hours of the morning and killing residents while they slept. He said attackers also set homes and farms ablaze, seized farmlands, and prevented displaced residents from returning to harvest their crops.
According to Fr. Yaro, some women were raped while trying to access farms to feed their families. He also claimed that the militia had blocked roads and killed farmers with impunity, while harvesting crops from abandoned farms to feed their animals.
Describing the situation as an “existential threat,” Fr. Yaro said the crisis had not only claimed lives and property but also hindered the growth of Christianity and infrastructure development in the area.
While acknowledging the intervention of the Taraba State Government and security agencies in other parts of the state, Fr. Yaro urged authorities to extend similar efforts to Chanchanji Ward and surrounding areas in Takum, Ussa and Donga. He called for urgent deployment of adequate security personnel to affected communities and demanded the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, regardless of ethnic, political or religious affiliation.
He also appealed for immediate humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons, including food, bedding, toiletries, medical care and temporary shelter, to prevent a major humanitarian crisis.
Yaro urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, local government chairmen and political leaders to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at fostering lasting peace in southern Taraba.
He warned that if the state fails to guarantee security for residents, the church may seek help from the international community.
Despite the grim situation, the clergy pledged continued spiritual support for government and security agencies as they work to restore peace.
Catholic priests lead solidarity walk over mass killings in Taraba
