The agrarian community of Munga Dosso in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State has raised alarm over persistent attacks by suspected herders, appealing to the state government for full enforcement of the anti-open grazing law to safeguard lives and farmlands.
Mr. Robert Bukar, Youth Leader of the community, made the appeal on Monday while addressing journalists in Jalingo.
He described the recent attack, which left 12 people dead and several others injured, as a devastating blow to a community that depends entirely on agriculture for survival.
According to Bukar, the attack has not only caused loss of lives and property worth millions but has also paralyzed farming activities in the area, deepening food insecurity and pushing many families into displacement.
He lamented that despite the community’s peaceful disposition and consistent efforts to report security threats to the authorities, the people of Munga Dosso have been left to their fate.
“We are a peace-loving, agrarian people. All we ask for is protection to continue our farming. But instead, we are attacked, and no one comes to our aid,” he said.
Bukar further criticized the absence of government officials at the mass burial of the victims.
“Not even a condolence visit from our representatives at the federal, state, or local levels. It is disheartening,” he said, noting that the relief materials later sent by the state government fell far short of what the grieving community needed.
He also accused security agencies of bias, revealing that while victims are frequently arrested and detained, perpetrators of violence often walk free. “In this latest incident, herders were arrested with assault rifles by the police in Karim-Lamido, but were released the next day,” he claimed.
Bukar urged the government to deploy more security personnel to the area and ensure the recently constituted administrative committee of enquiry investigates the matter thoroughly and brings the attackers to justice.
He stressed that if the anti-open grazing law, enacted in 2018 under former Governor Darius Ishaku, is properly enforced, it would go a long way in resolving the lingering farmers-herders conflict and restoring peace to farming communities across the state.
