RENEWED HERDSMEN ATTACKS ON TIV COMMUNITIES IN TAKUM LGA: TIV YOUTHS DEMAND SWIFT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
Mohammed Tikka
The Tiv Taraba Youth Development and Progressive Forum (TTYDPF) has alarm over a renewed wave of violent attacks on Tiv communities in Chanchanji Ward, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, allegedly perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen.
In a press statement released on Thursday, November 6, 2025, and signed by the Forum’s President, Comrade Torkuma Luper Moses, and General Secretary, Comrade Uko Moses Wuaga, the group described the attacks as “unprovoked, barbaric, and deliberate attempts to wipe out peaceful Tiv farmers” from their ancestral lands.
According to the statement, the renewed violence, which reportedly began last week, has resulted in multiple deaths, severe injuries, and the displacement of entire families. The Forum said that the affected villages—Tornyi, Unom, Sati, Agia, Iorbume, Tse Uhembe, Tse Ugbaa, Yongogba, Gidin, Tse Adam, and Apiita—have been completely ravaged, with homes burnt and farmlands destroyed.
The TTYDPF noted that the attacks have created a humanitarian crisis, forcing thousands of residents to flee to nearby communities where they are now struggling to survive without adequate food, shelter, and medical support. “Our people are sleeping in open fields, exposed to hunger, disease, and further attacks. The situation is dire and demands immediate government intervention,” the statement read.
The Forum condemned the continued silence and inaction of both state and federal authorities in the face of repeated assaults on Tiv communities. It called on Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently deploy security agencies to the affected areas to restore law and order, and to prevent the escalation of violence.
TTYDPF further urged the government to establish additional military and police outposts across Chanchanji Ward and other vulnerable communities in Takum LGA to deter further attacks. It also appealed for the provision of emergency relief materials—such as food, medical supplies, and temporary shelters—for the displaced victims.
In addition to immediate security measures, the Forum demanded that the Federal and State governments launch a thorough investigation to identify, arrest, and prosecute the attackers and their sponsors. It also called for the organization of a peace summit involving Tiv and Fulani leaders to address the root causes of the recurring conflict and promote lasting reconciliation.
The statement extended the appeal to national and international bodies, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), urging them to document the alleged atrocities and ensure justice for the victims. It also called on international humanitarian organizations and NGOs to assist in providing relief and rehabilitation to displaced families.
TTYDPF stressed that Taraba State should be classified as a priority area under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), a Federal initiative aimed at resolving herder-farmer conflicts through modern livestock management. The group believes that such classification will help reduce tensions between herders and farmers while ensuring sustainable agricultural and livestock practices.
Tracing the root of the crisis, the Forum explained that the Tiv-Fulani conflict in Taraba State has persisted for years, largely due to disputes over grazing routes, farmlands, and reprisal attacks. Despite several peace agreements and interventions, it lamented, the lack of proper implementation has continued to fuel cycles of violence and distrust between the two groups.
Reaffirming their commitment to peace, the Tiv youths emphasized that the Tiv people of Chanchanji Ward and the wider Taraba State are law-abiding and peace-loving citizens who deserve protection under the Nigerian Constitution. They warned that continued government inaction could lead to more loss of lives and further destabilize the region.
“We can no longer tolerate these repeated attacks on our people,” the statement concluded. “We are calling on the government at all levels to rise to the occasion and fulfill its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property. The time to act is now before the situation deteriorates beyond control.”
