Taraba State in North East region is facing rising farmer–herdsmen tensions.
Tor-Damisa, a Tiv community in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State, has raised the alarm over an alleged planned attack on its villages by suspected Fulani militia.
The Ugondo Mdema Development Association (UMDA), the umbrella association of the people of the area, raised the alarm in the early hours of Sunday, alleging that suspected Fulani militia were planning to launch fresh attacks on Tor-Damisa.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of UMDA, Mr. Joel Iorember, and made available to journalists in Jalingo, the association said tension was already building in the community following the alleged threats by the suspected militia.
“Thousands of residents within and around Tor-Damisa are fleeing for their safety to neighbouring communities. We call on security agencies and the local, state and federal governments to come to our aid.”
The association said Tor-Damisa, a predominantly farming community, has in recent times suffered repeated attacks allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen, resulting in the deaths of several residents and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
According to the statement: “Troops of the Nigerian Army stationed in Abako, along the Taraba-Benue border, acting on credible intelligence, busted a Fulani militia camp in Tsav-Nomchongo village in the Abako axis of Tor-Damisa community, where they recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.”
The association called on Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas and security agencies to take proactive measures to restore peace in Tor-Damisa to enable displaced residents to return to their ancestral homes and resume farming.
Iorember also commended security agencies in Donga Local Government Area for responding to some of the recent threats but urged the police and the military to remain vigilant against the alleged planned attack.
“We are worried that this conflict is resurfacing after all efforts made in the past to restore normalcy in the community. Intelligence available to us suggests that the suspected Fulani militia are planning another deadly attack on Tor-Damisa.”
He further alleged: “Our sources revealed that the Fulani herdsmen claimed that two of their cows were stolen around Tor-Damisa, prompting the planned attack. As I speak, they have already chased our farmers away and destroyed their crops and farmlands, displacing them for the second time this year.”
He added: “As it stands, Fulani herdsmen are occupying our villages, and there is no way our people can return to continue their day-to-day activities.”
It will be recalled that three police officers and the chairman of the local vigilante group were killed earlier this year during clashes between herders and farmers in the Tor-Damisa area.
