By Atoyebi Nike
Less than two days after the close of the Taraba International Investment Summit (Taravest) in Jalingo, suspected herdsmen attacked Munga Lalau and Munga Doso villages in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, killing four villagers and leaving several others injured.
While residents allege over 30 deaths, the Taraba State Police Command confirmed four fatalities. The attacks, which occurred on Friday, caused hundreds of residents to flee their homes out of fear of further violence.
Just days earlier, Governor Agbu Kefas had convened a security meeting, urging warring factions to lay down arms and allow displaced persons to return to their communities and resume farming. The renewed violence has now raised concerns over the governor’s peace appeal and the state’s readiness for investment.
Karim-Lamido, a resource-rich area known for agriculture and minerals, has suffered multiple herdsmen-related attacks in recent weeks, including an earlier raid that claimed 15 lives.
Speaking to reporters, Suleiman Joel, Chairman of the Munga Youths Forum, said the attackers arrived on motorcycles armed with high-powered weapons.
“Those who heeded the governor’s call and returned have now been killed,” Joel lamented. “How can investors come to a place soaked in blood?”
Governor Kefas, through his media adviser Hon. Emmanuel Bello, strongly condemned the attack.
“He mourns with the bereaved and warns that the aggressors will face serious consequences. The governor reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the state and emphasized the need for public cooperation with security forces,” the statement read.
The Police Public Relations Officer, James Lashen, confirmed the attack, stating that officers engaged the armed assailants, forcing them to flee.
“Our team recovered four bodies during a search. No officers were harmed in the exchange,” he said.
The attack marks a troubling setback for a state trying to boost its investment profile amid persistent security concerns.
