Gunmen Kill Five in Plateau as Army Moves to Contain Tiv-Fulani Clashes in Taraba
Fresh violence has rocked parts of the North-Central region, with gunmen killing five persons and burning houses in Plateau State, PRNigeria learnt.
However, the Nigerian Army intensified efforts to contain resurging clashes between Tiv farmers and Fulani herders in Taraba State.
In Plateau, suspected Fulani militias attacked Tim village in Chakfem District of Mangu Local Government Area on Tuesday at about 4 p.m., killing five people and setting ablaze 10 thatched houses.
Local sources said the assailants stormed the community, shooting sporadically before torching homes. The victims’ corpses have been evacuated for burial, while the injured are receiving treatment at nearby health facilities.
Community members linked the assault to a possible reprisal over cattle rustling in the area. Troops of the Special Task Force (STF) were quickly deployed and engaged the attackers in a firefight, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds.
Zagazola reports that calm returned on Wednesday, though residents say tension remains high as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, in Taraba, renewed hostilities between Tiv farmers and Fulani herders have reignited fears of communal conflict in Bali and Gassol Local Government Areas. The clashes, which erupted near Dananacha over the weekend, left several people dead and others injured after a dispute over grazing on a beni seed farm spiralled into violence.
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According to Tiv community leaders, the crisis began when a farmer confronted herders for grazing cattle on his yet-to-be-harvested crops. The herders allegedly retaliated by attacking two farmers, who escaped with machete wounds. Matters escalated further the following day when an 11-year-old Tiv boy was killed, sparking reprisal and counter-attacks across adjoining villages.
The Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade, through its Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bali, swiftly deployed additional troops to flashpoints. Brigade sources confirmed that some headquarters elements were temporarily moved to Dananacha to reassure residents and restore confidence. “We have repositioned our troops and launched confidence-building patrols. The situation has remained calm in the past three days,” military sources said.
The Tiv-Fulani conflict in the area first escalated in May and June 2025, claiming lives in Borno Kuru-Kuru, Tor Baki, and Dananacha axis. In June, 6 Brigade facilitated peace accords between Tiv and Fulani leaders after a series of stakeholder meetings. However, isolated killings and reprisals have resurfaced, necessitating renewed intervention.
The Brigade said it would reconvene Tiv and Fulani stakeholders for dialogue to reinforce peace efforts. “Our commitment remains to ensure lasting peace. We will not allow a return to large-scale violence,” the Commander assured.
For now, military presence has restored relative calm in both Plateau and Taraba, but communities remain on edge amid fears that tensions could once again trigger wider bloodshed.
By PRNigeria
