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Over 70 Feared Dead in Coordinated Attacks on Tiv Communities in Taraba’s Takum LGA

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Community leaders and social media reports from Taraba State have raised alarm over a major wave of violence in Chanchanji Council Ward, Takum Local Government Area, where at least 70 people from the predominantly Christian Tiv ethnic group are feared killed. The attacks, said to have occurred on or around February 3, 2026, also reportedly resulted in the vandalism or destruction of about 35 churches across affected communities.

A detailed list of victims, circulated widely on platforms including Facebook and attributed to sources like Ozor Ndi Ozor on X, names dozens of individuals—including men, women, a pastor, and one person allegedly abducted alive. The partial list includes names such as Terla Tyonenge, Dajo Senga, Sonter Msugh, Pastor Doose Mbathembembe, Luper Mulega (taken alive), and many others, highlighting the scale of the reported casualties among Tiv residents.

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The incident has been described by some local voices as part of a broader pattern of targeted violence against Tiv communities in southern Taraba, with accusations of cultural and ethnic genocide amid ongoing farmer-herder tensions and land disputes. Critics, including the poster Ukan Kurugh, have accused mainstream media of underreporting the events, keeping much of the public unaware of the severity.

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Reports from Christian advocacy groups and local sources confirm the attacks were coordinated, affecting multiple settlements and leading to widespread destruction of homes, places of worship, and properties. Community leaders have released victim names to document the losses and call attention to the humanitarian crisis, including displacement and fear among survivors.

No official confirmation of the exact death toll or circumstances has been issued by Taraba State authorities or security agencies at the time of this report. Similar incidents in the region have previously drawn condemnation from religious bodies and calls for urgent intervention to protect vulnerable farming communities.

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The violence adds to a long-standing cycle of insecurity in parts of Taraba State, where Tiv settlements have faced repeated assaults, often linked to resource conflicts. As details continue to emerge, affected families and displaced persons are appealing for support, justice, and stronger security measures to prevent further bloodshed.

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