Suspected Herders Attack Taraba Community, One Killed, Over 100 Houses Burnt

Fresh violence has erupted in Bandawa Gwenzu, a farming community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, as suspected herders launched a night attack that left one person dead and over 100 houses burned.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, targeted the clustered settlements of Gwenzu, Langwanshin, and Danzhan under the Bandawa Gwenzu community.

Describing the assault as “unprovoked, barbaric, and condemnable,” the community’s youth leader, Ishaya Peter, recounted the terrifying incident during a phone interview with Channels Television on Thursday.

According to Peter, villagers were sitting and talking when they suddenly heard distant gunshots, triggering panic and a desperate attempt to flee.

“We could not stand the attack because they came with guns and we are peace-loving people without weapons except our bow and arrow, cutlasses, that is all,” he said.

Peter added that he heard the voices of herders approaching the village alongside some familiar neighbours, and that prior warnings had been issued to security agencies — but no intervention came.

“One of us who died was due to his inability to swim while crossing the river, as they attacked us,” he said. “The villages were deserted, and we are still counting our losses. Women and children have been asked to leave the villages because we do not know when or where they will attack.”

As of the time of this report, the Taraba State Police Command has not issued any statement regarding the incident.

This is not the first time the area has come under attack. In May 2025, a similar assault in Bandawa led to the deaths of three people, leaving many others injured and displaced.