Taraba: 40 feared dead in renewed Bandawa–Fulani crisis

Dispute between farmers and herders in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State has spiralled into a deadly communal conflict.

The latest clashes reportedly claimed at least 40 lives, displacing hundreds in the past two weeks.

Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, made this known in a post on his X account.

Makama said he was informed by intelligence sources that the crisis broke out on May 9, and was sparked by a confrontation over farmland encroachment between a Bandawa youth, Buhari Malamby, and two Fulani herders whose cattle had allegedly strayed onto his farm.

According to the report, dozens of the  youths attacked the Fulani herders with machetes.

Makama narrated that witnesses claimed that Malamby was killed during the altercation, which prompted youths from Bandawa to mobilize and slaughter several cattle in the bush in retaliation.

“Within hours, reprisal attacks followed. Armed Fulani youths reportedly invaded Badawa community, killing two persons and injuring another youth from nearby Munga Dasso. This marked the beginning of a cycle of violence and counter-violence that has rocked the region,” the security expert stated.

Makama said that security forces followed swiftly, and convened a peace meeting on May 15 and 16 with key stakeholders from the affected communities – Bandawa, Munga Dasso, Munga Lelau, and the Fulani settlements.

The meeting concluded with a pledge to sign a peace accord at a later date in Karim-Lamido town.

However, Makama said that the fragile truce was shattered when a Munga Dasso youth, whose name was yet to be confirmed at the time of this report, was reportedly killed by Fulani youths while on his way to a farm near a Fulani settlement in Munga Lelau.

“This killing triggered another violent retaliation. Munga Lelau youths, who witnessed the attack, stormed the Fulani settlement and killed four individuals. In response, heavily armed Fulani militia, reportedly mobilizing from neighbouring communities on nearly 50 motorcycles with up to three riders each, launched a large-scale assault on Munga Lelau,” he added.

Authorities have since imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew across Bandawa, Munga Dasso, Munga Lelau, and surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, the security expert stated that despite the presence of troops and police, the area remains calm, with many residents who fled their homes returning, while others were still trapped in fear, afraid of another round of attacks.

Taraba: 40 feared dead in renewed Bandawa–Fulani crisis