Catholic Priests Stage Peaceful Protest Over Killings, Displacements in Southern Taraba
From Christiana Babayo
Catholic priests under the Diocese of Wukari on Thursday staged a peaceful protest in Jalingo to draw attention to what they described as “lingering and heartbreaking carnage” in parts of Southern Taraba, before addressing journalists at the Catholic Secretariat.
Clad in clerical attire and moving in solidarity, the priests said the demonstration was aimed at spotlighting the plight of communities in Chanchanji Ward of Takum Local Government Area, as well as parts of Ussa and Donga LGAs, where they alleged repeated attacks by suspected Fulani militia since September 2025.
At the press briefing, Very Rev Fr James Yaro, Vicar Pastoral of Catholic Diocese Wukari, said that more than 80 people have been killed, several injured, and over 200 communities and churches destroyed, with more than 90,000 Catholics displaced across the affected areas.
“It has become expedient for us as a diocese to carry out this solidarity walk and to address you, Gentlemen of the Press, on the lingering and heartbreaking carnage that has been going on in Wukari Diocese particularly Chanchanji Ward of Takum Local Government Area, and parts of Ussa and Donga Local Government Areas in Southern Taraba since September 2025.
“More than 80 persons have been killed so far, several others injured with various degrees of injuries, while over 200 communities and Churches have been destroyed and the residents, numbering over 90,000 Catholics, displaced.
“The suspected Fulani militia who carry out these attacks usually come in the wee hours, mostly while people are sleeping and launch the attacks, killing anyone in sight and setting houses and harvests ablaze.
“The most recent attack took place in Mchia village in Chanchanji Ward on Tuesday 10 February 2026, precisely at 4.00am where over ten people were allegedly killed and some houses destroyed.
“The suspected Fulani militia have also taken over the entire farmlands of the people and would attack anybody who dares to visit his farm in an attempt to get food for his family. Some women have been raped in the process of doing so. There have been instances where they block the roads and kill unsuspecting and harmless farmers with impunity.
“The situation in Southern Taraba State have lingered and continue to pose existential threat to life as well serious challenge to the growth of the Christian faith and infrastructural development of the area. This crisis does not only cost lives and property. It also greatly infringes on the religious freedom of Christians in the affected communities” the Catholic Diocese noted.
While acknowledging interventions by the Taraba State Government and security agencies in areas such as Karim Lamido, Sarkin Kudu axis, and the Rafin Kada–Takum road, the diocese called for similar security deployment in the hardest-hit communities to halt the violence.
“We appeal to the Government to, as a matter of urgency, adequate security personnel should be mobilized and deployed to the hinterlands where this carnage is taking place unabated.
“The government at all levels must be deliberate in ensuring security guarantees and bringing enablers and perpetrators of these dastardly acts or heinous crimes against humanity to justice through their immediate arrest and prosecution, irrespective of their ethnic, political and religious affiliations.
“The plight of the Internally Displaced Persons require immediate intervention by the government, humanitarian agencies at all levels, NGOs, philanthropists and people of goodwill. The urgent needs of the IDPs include, among other things, relief materials such as food stuff, beddings, toiletries, medical health care and temporary tents in order to guarantee their overall well-being. ” The Diocese appealed.
It warned that if security measures fail and lives and property remain unprotected, affected communities may seek international intervention.
The diocese pledged continued prayers and support for government authorities and security agencies in their efforts to restore peace and stability in southern Taraba.
