Two soldiers have been confirmed dead following a renewed outbreak of violence between farmers and herders in the Bandawa community, in Karim-Lamido local government council of Taraba State.
The deadly clash, which occurred on Wednesday, is the latest in a string of violent confrontations that have plagued rural communities across the state in recent months.
According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers were deployed to the area to help restore order but were caught in the crossfire between the warring factions.
“The fighting started early in the morning and escalated rapidly.
“In the process of trying to intervene, two soldiers lost their lives,” said a community leader.
The violence, at the time of filing this report, has triggered widespread panic, forcing residents to flee their homes.
Several farmlands and houses were as well reported to have been set ablaze in the chaos, DAILY POST learnt.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Leshen, said security operatives had been dispatched to the area.
“Security agencies have been mobilised to the community to contain the situation and prevent further loss of lives,” he said, adding that a full assessment of casualties was still underway.
In response to the incident, Musa Garba, a youth leader in Karim Lamido, described the deaths as “a tragic reminder of the need for stronger government action.”
He called on authorities to find a lasting solution to the recurring crisis.
“Our people are tired of running from their ancestral homes,” he said.
The Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF), an advocacy group based in Jalingo, also condemned the killings.
In a statement, the group urged both state and federal governments to take “decisive measures against the rising cycle of violence that is turning rural Taraba into a killing field.”
Farmers-herders conflicts remain a persistent security challenge in Taraba State.
Areas such as Karim Lamido, Lau, Wukari, Bali, and Gassol councils have repeatedly been the scene of deadly disputes, often driven by tensions over land use, grazing rights, and access to water.
Taraba: Two soldiers killed in fresh farmers-herders clash
