As Regime-Friendly Media Undercount Deaths and Disparage Atrocity as ‘Communal Clash’
By Mike Odeh James and Elisha Ayes
(Donga, Taraba State) A tribal chief lay among 20 Christians gunned down by Fulani terrorists in a nighttime assault on this quiet farm village January 10, eyewitnesses tell TruthNigeria.
Traumatized and displaced residents and local authorities of Tor-Demsa village in Akete precinct, Donga County spoke to TruthNigeria Monday.
The massacre and village sacking happened on the evening of Jan. 10, according to witnesses.
Donga County lies in western Taraba State, covering approximately 3,121 square kilometers along the Donga River. It is located 70–85 miles from Jalingo, the state capital, and about 320–350 miles southeast of Abuja.
Armed mercenaries stormed Tor-Demsa on the night of January 6, 2026, leaving dozens displaced and destroying homes, food stores, and farmlands worth the equivalent of tens of thousands of U.S. dollars.
Conflicted Media Downplays Killings
Nigerian media contradict each other on the day of the attack and what precipitated it. Leadership incorrectly traced the massacre to Jan. 6. The Cable, reported the attack took place on Friday, Jan. 9.
Daily Trust reported the bloodletting of Christians on January 10, 2026 in its headline as a “Farmer Herder Clash,” presenting the incident as a reprisal by Fulani herders. As per Daily Trust, the local people in Gundom village attacked and killed a Fulani herder. TruthNigeria found no witnesses in the area that confirmed this account. Daily Trust newspaper headlines picked up the paradigm explanation of “Farmer-herder clash” and fixed the death toll at 11.
BusinessDay neglected to identify the ethnicity of the killers as “suspected herders,” and framed the violence within the familiar crop-damage-and-reprisal narrative. According to BusinessDay the herder whose cattle grazed Tiv land was “manhandled”:
“One of the herders was also caught and manhandled by the locals. In retaliation, the herders mobilized overnight, killing innocent villagers, destroying crops, and burning homes with properties worth millions of naira.”
The NewsPointer avoided naming the attackers altogether, using vague terms such as “armed assailants,” while reporting 10 deaths. Similarly, 21st Century Chronicle blended “gunmen” and “herders” language, maintaining a casualty figure of 10.
Survivors Describe Coordinated Assault
Emmanuel Terveer, a farmer and father of nine, said armed Fulani groups had repeatedly driven cattle into Tiv farmlands in the weeks leading up to the attack, destroying crops and escalating tensions.
“We reported this to the police, the army, and the county authorities, but nothing was done. These are not ordinary herders. They are heavily armed with guns and machetes, sometimes arriving in groups of 50 to 100,” Terveer said.
He explained that residents peacefully resisted the incursions between January 4 and 5, asking the armed herders to leave.
“On the evening of January 10, we heard shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar’ followed by heavy gunfire. I hid my family in the bush. When I returned, houses were already burning.”
‘They Had a List of Targets’
Victor Uba, a 30-year-old farmer, told TruthNigeria that the attackers moved with a list of house addresses in hand.
“They went straight to the house of the village head of Tor-Damsa and killed him first. After that, they burned nearby houses. From there they moved directly to the home of the precinct councilor, Vaatyough Waakaa, and shot him dead. They went house to house, killing those who could not escape.”
Uba said the confirmed death toll stood at about 20, noting that the figure could rise as some victims were critically wounded.
Community Leaders Confirm Targeted Killings
Ben Damisa, a prominent community leader in Donga County, confirmed that the attackers spoke Fulfulde and arrived in large numbers.
“All those killed are Christians from the Tiv ethnic nationality. The attackers are Fulani. Homes, farm produce, and other valuables were destroyed, forcing many villagers to flee to neighboring communities.”
Another resident, Alphonsus Bashe, rejected claims that the violence was a routine “farmer–herder” dispute.
“This is not about climate change or grazing routes. This is ethnic cleansing. Armed Fulani terrorists are using cattle as cover to seize land. They carry AK-47 rifles and openly identify as Muslims while attacking Christian communities.”
Bashe said the affected communities—primarily Tiv, Chamba, and Kuteb farmers—had no prior violent conflict before the armed incursions.
Police and County Government Response
Taraba State Police spokesperson ASP Victor Mshelizah confirmed the incident and said security forces had been deployed. He spoke to reporter (Not TruthNigeria) in Jalingo.
“Tactical teams have been deployed to Donga County to restore calm. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible,” Mshelizah said.
Donga County Chairman Yahaya Ali Iki condemned the killings, describing them as “a senseless assault on peace, security, and democratic institutions at the grassroots.” He directed security agencies to intensify patrols across flashpoint communities.
Residents Fault Security Agencies
Survivors criticized security forces for failing to act on early warnings.
“We raised the alarm before the attack, but nothing was done until it was too late,” a community leader told TruthNigeria, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
Mike Odeh James and Elisha Ayes are conflict reporters with TruthNigeria.
