Tension In Taraba Community After Death Of Forest Guard, Herder

Residents of Mararaban Kunini in Lau local government area of Taraba State were thrown into fear and confusion on Tuesday morning after a violent attack that claimed the lives of a forest guard and a suspected herdsman.

The incident, which occurred at about around 9am. on 14 April, 2026, began when a forest guard, identified as Jerry Jimmy, reportedly attempted to arrest a man later identified as Ya’u Jaro Saidu of Jegem Village.

This was contained in a press release issued to newsmen in Jalingo and signed by ASP Victor Mshelizah the Acting Public Relations Officer of the command.

According to preliminary accounts, what started as a routine arrest quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation between the two deceased persons.

The suspect allegedly removed a concealed knife during a struggle and stabbed the forest guard in the chest, thereby inflicting fatal injuries on him.

The news of the killing quickly spread across the community, thereby sparking anger among youths from the locality.

In a retaliatory move, the suspect was reportedly overpowered and lynched by a mob for killing the forest guard.

In a swift response, the Taraba State Police Command, led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Moorkwap Sebastian Dongshal, mobilized to the scene for on the spot assessment visit and engaged community leaders in a bid to restore calm.

The Police has begun a probe of the incidents to unravel the real cause of killings of the two.

During the meeting with leaders of the Fulani and Jenjo communities, the police commissioner condemned the mob action and warned against jungle justice.

He urged residents of the area and by extension the state to embrace peaceful coexistence and lawful means of addressing grievances.

This was contained in a press release issued to newsmen in Jalingo and signed by ASP Victor Mshelizah, the Ag. ‎Police Public Relations Officer of the command.