By Saidu Adamu
Jalingo
Priests, and other faithfuls from the Catholic Church Dioceses of Wukari and Jalingo have staged a peaceful protest against continued communal clashes that have left many residents dead in parts of Takum, Donga and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba State.
The protest which took place on Thursday in Jalingo and tagged a “solidarity walk” condemned the violent clashes in communities of Chanchanji Ward of Takum LGA that have been experiencing the troubling unrest among ethnic militia which have led to the death of more 80 persons in the last three months.
Addressing the Press at the end of the protest, Very Rev. Fr. James Yaro, Vicar Pastoral of Catholic Diocese of Wukari said that the crises have led to the destruction of several places of worship and community infrastructure in the affected area.
His statement reads in part : “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 residents, numbering over 90,000 displaced.
“The suspected ethnic 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 suspected ethnic 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.
“The militia crisis situation in Southern Taraba have lingered and continue to pose existential threat to life as well serious challenge to the growth of our 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 those affected in the aforementioned communities.
“In as much as we appreciate the intervention of the Taraba State Government and security agencies in tackling the ongoing security challenges in the state, especially the timely intervention in Karim-Lamido, Sarkin Kudu axis and Rafin Kada/Takum road, we equally call for an extension of same timely intervention to address and put an end to the carnage that has been going on in Chanchanji Ward and other parts of Takum, Ussa and more recently, parts of Donga Local Government Areas in order to restore peace in the affected communities.
“As a matter of urgency, adequate security personnel should be mobilized and deployed to the hinterlands where this carnage is taking place unabated.
“The plight of the Internally Displaced Persons require immediate intervention by the government, humanitarian agencies at all levels, NGOs, philanthropists and people of goodwill,” he said.
The Priests identified the urgent needs of the IDPs to include, relief materials such as food stuff, beddings, toiletries, medical health care and temporary tents, among other things to guarantee their overall well-being so as to avert a major humanitarian disaster.
“It is also expedient for major key players such as the traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, interfaith groups, local government chairmen and other political leaders in the affected area to meet and engage sincerely in constructive dialogue aimed at fostering lasting peace and stability in the southern Taraba region.
“Nonetheless, we continue to pledge our relentless spiritual support to the government, the traditional rulers and security personnel for God’s continuous guidance and protection upon them as they carry out their constitutional and administrative responsibilities for the common good,” the Priest stated.
Our correspondent reports that the priests carried placards with various inscriptions calling for an end to the killings and emphasising the sanctity of every human life.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
