More than 1,000 persons, mostly women, children and the elderly, have been displaced following a three day intensive communal conflict between members of the Mambilla and Fulani communities in Geroji settlements, Mbamnga Ward of Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The violence, which reportedly erupted on September 16, 2026, left about 340 houses burnt, while scores of displaced residents fled to neighbouring communities and across the border into the Republic of Cameroon for safety.
An unverified number of people were also reportedly killed, while several others were said to be missing following the clashes.
Our correspondent reports that the violence caused extensive destruction of homes, food stocks, livestock and other sources of livelihood.
The affected settlements include Wuro Buba, Wuro Ardo Bashiru, Wuro Wakili Idrisa, Wuro Saleh Petel, Wuro Hassan Jaji, Wuro Alhaji Jibo, Wuro Alhaji Manu and Wuro Mbarkal, all located within the Geroji community around the Mbamnga area.
One of the community leaders, Ardo Bashiru, told newsmen that, more than 340 houses scattered across the mountainous and difficult terrain of Geroji and Mbara were completely destroyed during the crisis.
According to him, several families are now facing a humanitarian crisis following the destruction of their homes and means of livelihood.
“Tonnes of foodstuff and other means of livelihood have been completely destroyed in the conflict that lasted for about three days from September 16, 2026,” Bashiru lamented.
He added that livestock, including cattle and sheep, were either killed or rustled during the violence.
Bashiru appealed to the state and federal governments, individuals and humanitarian organisations to urgently intervene, particularly as the rainy season continues to expose the displaced population to further hardship.
He said the victims had been left without adequate shelter, food and clothing following the destruction of their homes.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of Sardauna Local Government Area, Alhaji Mohammed Umar, said the crisis started following a confrontation between a Mambilla woman and a Fulani man on a farm.
Umar, who described the development as unfortunate, warned that anyone found attempting to undermine the peaceful coexistence among residents of the area would face the full weight of the law.
He disclosed that, the Taraba State Government had facilitated the deployment of security personnel to the affected communities to restore and maintain peace.
The council chairman also disclosed that arrangements had been concluded for the repatriation of refugees who fled into Nyang, in the Donga-Mantung Division of northwestern Cameroon, following the violence.
He appealed to governments, stakeholders and humanitarian agencies to provide urgent assistance for the resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the displaced persons and affected communities.
Also speaking, the Chief of Mbamnga, Alhaji Abubakar Saleh, appealed for calm and unity among the people, stressing that the Mambilla and Fulani communities had lived together peacefully for decades.
Saleh described the crisis as the first of its kind in his domain and assured that traditional and community leaders would work with relevant authorities to prevent a recurrence.
He urged the people to reject acts capable of escalating tension and undermine the return of peace to the affected communities.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Mambilla Plateau witnessed similar communal violence in 2017 and 2018, during which hundreds of people were reportedly killed and property destroyed.
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