Taraba Attacks: NOCRELA Says 102 Tiv Christians Killed, Churches Burnt in 33 Days!
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Taraba Attacks: NOCRELA Says 102 Tiv Christians Killed, Churches Burnt in 33 Days!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan (Editor-in-Chief) | Sele Media Africa Journalist
Chanchanji Ward, Takum Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria — The Northern Christians Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) has raised alarm over a spate of violent attacks in Taraba State that it says have resulted in the deaths of at least 102 Tiv Christians and the destruction of churches within the past 33 days. According to the body, the killings and burning of property occurred between 2 January and 3 February 2026 in Chanchanji Ward of Takum LGA.
In a strongly worded press statement, Rev. Dr. Micah Philip Dopah, Chairman of NOCRELA in Taraba State, condemned what the assembly described as “continuous, horrific, brutal, and targeted killings” against members of the Tiv ethnic Christian community and pastors of the NKST (Church of Christ in Nations). The statement accused militia suspected to be Fulani men of perpetrating the violence and specifically targeting Tiv Christians and churches.
Killings, Injuries and Community Outcry
NOCRELA’s assessment, based on local authorities’ analysis, indicates that the attacks — numbering ten separate incidents — have left over 100 people dead and more than 31 injured. The victims were reportedly killed in their homes and farms, and several NKST church structures and houses were set ablaze during the assaults.
The assembly said victims and community leaders told its team that the attacks were “specifically targeted at the Tiv community and NKST churches,” alleging that government security forces have failed to respond adequately to protect lives and property in the area. “Where is the government? And where are the security agencies?” the statement questioned.
Calls for Action
NOCRELA described the events as “terrible and dreadful acts of violent criminality against the Tiv people and NKST churches” and called on the Nigerian government and security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and secure vulnerable communities. The assembly urged deliberate interventions to protect Tiv Christians and church properties in Taraba State.
Leaders within the Tiv community also voiced frustration, highlighting what they see as insufficient protection from state and federal security forces, and warning that continued laxity could exacerbate longstanding tensions between herders and farming communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Broader Context of Violence in Taraba
The reported incidents form part of a wider pattern of violence affecting rural communities in Taraba State, where clashes between armed herders and farmers have led to deaths, displacement, and destruction of homes in recent years. Religious leaders and civil society groups have previously raised concerns over the escalation of attacks attributed to armed herdsmen and militia in parts of the state, including Takum and surrounding local government areas.
As the crisis continues, communities are calling for stronger security deployment, justice for victims, and sustained peacebuilding initiatives to end the cycle of violence.
Citations:
BusinessDay –
https://businessday.ng/news/article/102-persons-killed-within-33-days-in-tiv-community-areas-of-taraba/
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