The Catholic Diocese of Wukari has raised an urgent alarm over what it describes as relentless and systematic attacks by suspected Fulani militants across Southern Taraba State, leaving more than 100 people dead, thousands injured, and over 90,000 Catholics displaced since September 2025.

In a press briefing held Thursday at the Catholic Secretariat in Jalingo, diocesan leaders detailed months of coordinated assaults on predominantly Christian farming communities in Chanchanji Ward of Takum Local Government Area, and parts of Ussa and Donga Local Government Associations. The attacks, they said, have decimated entire villages, destroyed more than 200 communities and churches, and left families without homes, livelihoods, or protection.

Diocesan officials said the violence has followed a consistent and chilling pattern. Armed attackers reportedly arrive in the early morning hours, when residents are asleep, unleashing gunfire and setting homes, churches, and harvested crops ablaze. Survivors recount fleeing into the surrounding bushes as loved ones were shot and properties reduced to ashes.

The most recent assault occurred on Feb. 10, at about 5:30 a.m. in Mchia village, Chanchanji Ward, where more than ten Christians were killed and multiple homes destroyed. Church leaders say such incidents are no longer isolated events but part of a sustained campaign of terror targeting rural Christian populations.

Beyond the immediate loss of life, the attacks have triggered a deepening humanitarian crisis. Entire farmlands have reportedly been seized by the militants, who allegedly attack any displaced farmer attempting to return to harvest crops to feed their families.

There are also disturbing reports of women being raped while trying to get food. In some instances, roads have been blocked and unsuspecting travelers ambushed and killed. Diocesan authorities further allege that crops cultivated by displaced communities are now being harvested by the attackers and used to feed their livestock.

The Diocese warned that the crisis not only threatens local Christian communities but also strikes a blow to religious freedom and regional stability. Priests’ residences and church buildings have been specifically targeted and destroyed in some areas, reinforcing fears that the violence is not merely criminal but also religiously motivated.

“The carnage continues to pose an existential threat to life and a serious challenge to the growth of the Christian faith and infrastructural development of the area,” diocesan leaders stated.

While expressing appreciation for recent security interventions by the Taraba State Government and security agencies in other flashpoints such as Karim Lamido, the Sarkin Kudu axis, and the Rafin Kada–Takum road corridor, the Diocese called for urgent expansion of such efforts to the worst-affected areas in Chanchanji, Takum, Ussa, and Donga.

Church leaders outlined several urgent appeals to authorities:

* Immediate deployment of adequate security personnel to rural hinterlands where attacks continue unabated.

* Swift arrest and prosecution of perpetrators and enablers of the violence, regardless of ethnic, political, or religious affiliation.

* Comprehensive humanitarian intervention for internally displaced persons (IDPs), including food, medical care, bedding, sanitation supplies, and temporary shelters to prevent a larger humanitarian disaster.

* Genuine dialogue among traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and political authorities to foster sustainable peace in Southern Taraba.

The Diocese emphasized that while it remains committed to prayer and collaboration with the government, it may seek international assistance if the state proves unable to guarantee the constitutional protection of lives and property.

The unfolding crisis in Southern Taraba reflects a broader pattern of violence across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where predominantly Christian farming communities have faced repeated attacks by armed groups identified by local leaders as Fulani militants. Human rights advocates have long warned that impunity, weak law enforcement, and failure to hold perpetrators accountable have emboldened attackers and deepened communal insecurity.

As tens of thousands remain displaced and fearful of returning home, the Catholic Diocese of Wukari urges national authorities and the international community to recognize the gravity of the situation. Without decisive action, church leaders warn, Southern Taraba risks further destabilization, deepening humanitarian suffering, and continued erosion of religious freedom for vulnerable Christian communities.

For the faithful in Wukari Diocese, however, hope endures. Despite destroyed churches and shattered homes, diocesan leaders reaffirmed their commitment to sustained prayer and peaceful advocacy, expressing confidence that lasting peace is still possible if justice and security are meaningfully pursued.

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