Members of the two Muslim sects, Darika and Izala, have engaged in a two-day violent clash over when to begin worship at the renovated Jumma’at Mosque in Donga town, headquarters of the Donga local government area of Taraba State.
The deadly fight, which claimed the lives of two people, left several others injured in an incident that started as a disagreement, turned into a heated argument and then a violent clash.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the clash between the two sects was over the control of the renovated mosque.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, October 28, 2025 and escalated to Wednesday, October 29, during the official opening of the Donga Central Mosque.
An eyewitness said the crisis erupted when a disagreement broke out between two groups within the Muslim community.
“While one faction insisted that Friday prayers (Ibada) must commence in the mosque, even when work was still ongoing, the opposing group maintained that the prayers should only begin after the construction work was fully done.”
An argument, which degenerated into a violent fight, resulted in the death of two people and several others, who were hospitalised.
When filing this report, residents expressed palpable fears, tension, and anxiety, as a team of security operatives was deployed to forestall any further breach of law and order.
The acting Police Public Relations Officer of the Taraba State Police Command, Ishaku Victor Mshelizah, said Donga is under surveillance to prevent any situation from arising.
The Police said in a statement, “In response to the Donga Central Mosque dispute incident, please be informed that the situation is currently under control and the area is relatively calm.
“The police are currently in talks with elders and stakeholders in the community to ensure the return of peace and normalcy and also to avoid a recurrence of such incidents,” Mshelizah said.
The Donga Central Mosque, which is in a deplorable state for the comfort of its inhabitants, is being renovated by a former Chief of Defence Intelligence, AVM M.S. Usman (Rtd).
Before the renovation, the Donga Central Mosque was under the administration of Jama’atul Izalatul Bidi’a Wa’Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS). However, after the renovation, the Gara of Donga took over the mosque, stating that he had the authority to determine who managed it.
