Catholic Church, Community Leaders Raise Alarm — “We Have No Fuel to Respond”
By Ekani Olikita
Makurdi, Nigeria — A renewed wave of coordinated attacks by armed Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) has erupted in Christian communities across and Nasarawa and Taraba States, sparking fears of an expanding campaign of ethnic and religious cleansing in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Until recently, the worst-hit areas were Benue, Plateau and Southern Kaduna. But the latest attacks mark a calculated expansion of terror fronts into Nasarawa and Taraba States—two agrarian states with large Christian populations.
Taraba, about 200 miles east of Abuja, is roughly 90% Christian, while Nasarawa, which borders the Federal Capital Territory, has a mixed population but has become a hub for armed Fulani networks.
Militia Camps Identified in Nasarawa
In Nasarawa State, local lawyer Barrister Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu confirmed to TruthNigeria, the existence of Fulani militia camps in Keana, Obi and Doma counties.
“These camps in places like Kwara, Kadarko, Giza, Rukubi, Olegokpa and Akpanaja forests are launchpads for attacks on Christian communities across Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau,” he said.
“Villages such as Amurayi, Antsa, Doshima, and Agbogio have been completely taken over. We may soon lose our ancestral lands,” Ayiwulu warned, lamenting government silence. “People are being killed daily, yet authorities say nothing. Do we even have security or representation in this state?”
Conflict analyst Dr. Jacob Dondo described the situation as “a coordinated attempt to expand the frontlines of religious and ethnic cleansing into Christian-majority areas,” warning that federal inaction is emboldening the attackers.
Targeted Killings in Nasarawa
Once regarded as a “Peaceful State,” Nasarawa is now under siege. Armed Fulani groups have intensified killings, kidnappings and land seizures, particularly in southern parts of the state, Ayiwulu added
On Friday, November 7, 2025, over 50 armed men invaded Sarkin Noma in Keana County, killing three Christians. The attack sparked mass protests that blocked the busy Makurdi–Lafia Federal Highway.
Two days later, another militia group ambushed three young Christians along Itsiga Road in Doma County, killing them—including Prince James Delle Iwala, son of the late Chief Jonathan Gule Iwala of Duguru.
“Our communities are under siege,” said Manasseh Usman, a Migili community leader. “They’ve seized our farms, rape our women, and kill our people at will. We can’t even access our lands.”
Ethno-Religious Cleansing Fronts in Taraba
Community leader, Elder Abu Clement of Chanchangi Community told TruthNigeria that armed Fulani terrorists have “established ethno-religious-cleansing fronts” across multiple communities in Southern Taraba, especially those bordering Benue’s Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum counties.
“They are attacking, kidnapping, and killing the Jukun, Kuteb, and Tiv Christian tribes,” he said, listing dozens of affected communities including Chanchangi, Amadu, Peva, Takum, Ussa, Danjuma Farm Area, Tor Gbengee, Jenuwa Nyifiye, Ribasi, Asuku, and Tornyi.
Recent TruthNigeria investigations also revealed at least 20 deaths and a “hidden genocide” against Catholic residents in southern Taraba, linked to a terrorist hub in the Danjuma Farms axis.
Waves of Attacks Across Taraba
Fulani militants have recently intensified attacks on farming settlements in Wukari and Donga (Taraba), Ussa, leaving scores dead and villages destroyed. Witnesses say the attacks are systematically targeting Christian areas—burning homes, churches, and farms.
The Catholic Diocese of Wukari renewed its call to end what it described as “the systematic killing of Christians according to the Daily Post.
“It is disheartening that attacks on innocent citizens keep happening despite government promises,” said Rev. Fr. John Laikel, the Diocese’s Director of Social Communications. He accused Fulani militias of “Christian genocide and land grabbing,” alleging that the attackers graze cattle on victims’ lands and occupy deserted villages.
“The pattern of attacks in southern Taraba shows a deliberate plan to take over Christian communities for grazing,” Laikel said, urging the government to act decisively.
Church Blames Security Agencies
Fr. George Dogo of Holy Family Catholic Church, Takum, accused security agencies of neglect during attacks.
“When we alert them, they complain of lack of fuel or personnel while people are being slaughtered daily,” he said.
Tiv Community Condemns Renewed Killings
The Tiv community in Taraba also condemned the escalating violence. In a joint statement by Torkuma Lupet Moses and Uko Moses Wuaga, they reported that over 1,000 families have been displaced and property worth millions destroyed. They appealed for the creation of more military outposts and urgent government intervention.
Church Leaders Demand Action
Civil and church-based groups have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to urgently intervene, redeploy troops, and provide humanitarian aid to displaced families.
“These are not farmer-herder clashes,” said Bitrus Poga, spokesperson for the Middle Belt Christian Forum. “This is targeted terrorism against Christian communities and must be addressed as such.”
Community leaders across Nasarawa and Taraba warn that without firm government action, the Middle Belt risks descending into a full-blown humanitarian disaster.
Ekani Olikita is a Conflict Reporter for TruthNigeria.
