Residents of Takum Demand Urgent Investigation into Series of Deadly Attacks on Soldiers and Civilians

Residents of Takum Local Government Area in Taraba State have intensified calls for security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into a string of violent incidents that have claimed the lives of both military personnel and civilians over the past decade and more. The demands come amid growing frustration over recurring attacks in the region, particularly in Chanchanji Ward, where communities continue to face insecurity.

Historical reports highlight several high-profile assaults on security forces. On April 12, 2012, two soldiers from the 93 Battalion were killed in Totser village, Chanchanji Ward, alongside several civilians. A more devastating incident occurred on May 11, 2022, when the battalion’s commanding officer and six soldiers were reportedly killed in Tati Mayan Ward.

Additional cases include the killing of four mobile police officers in New Gboko, Chanchanji Ward, on March 27, 2012. More recently, on December 18, 2025, three soldiers attached to Operation Whirl Stroke, Sector 4, lost their lives in an attack. These events form part of a broader pattern of violence in the area, often linked to ongoing tensions involving armed groups, land disputes, and ethnic clashes between Tiv farming communities and suspected Fulani militias.

The Nigerian Army has previously confirmed the recovery of weapons belonging to fallen personnel in some incidents. However, local residents are raising serious questions about how these firearms were retrieved and subsequently returned to circulation, fueling suspicions and demands for transparency. Community leaders are pressing for a full, independent probe to address these concerns and prevent further escalation.

In their appeals, residents have drawn comparisons to past national crises, such as the 1999 Odi massacre and the Zaki-Biam killings, where swift and decisive government intervention followed widespread outrage. They argue that similar resolve is needed now to restore confidence in security arrangements.

Community voices are urging greater unity among residents while calling on the Nigerian Defence Headquarters and the Federal Government to bolster security presence in Takum, safeguard civilian and military lives alike, and hold perpetrators accountable regardless of status. The persistent violence has heightened fears in the region, disrupting livelihoods and displacing families in vulnerable rural wards.

As the calls for action grow louder, the situation in Takum underscores the challenges of maintaining peace in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where ethnic, religious, and resource-based conflicts have long simmered. Residents emphasize that without prompt and effective measures, the cycle of attacks risks deepening divisions and claiming more lives.