By Mike Odeh James and Suleman Ayuba
(Jalingo) Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) killed at least three Christian farmers and burned three villages Friday in Gwomu community, Karim Lamido County, Taraba State, residents told TruthNigeria.
The latest attacks began on July 2 , 2026 and continued to July 3, 2026
The victims’ only offense, according to Dennis Malo, a resident of the affected community, was confronting members of the Fulani Ethnic Militia after cattle were driven onto their farms, a recurring provocation that locals say had intensified even before this year’s planting season.
The attackers burned large sections of the villages of Bobbo, Weyam and Bakau, all located in the Gwomu Bayan Dutse area of Bikwin Ward. Surviving residents fled to the neighboring communities of Bambuka, Dadiya, Loh and Panya, carrying whatever belongings they could salvage.
Malo further told TruthNigeria that there was no security presence in the affected communities from Thursday night until Friday morning, leaving farming families exposed as the Fulani Terrorists moved through the settlements.
Killings Despite Month-Old Curfew
The Gwomu attack occurred despite a 24-hour curfew imposed on June 4 by the Chairperson of Karim Lamido County Council, Mrs. Virginia Baba Bambur, following an earlier wave of violence against Wurkum communities around Didango, Mutum Daya Kodai and Gurum that left several people dead.
Announcing that curfew, Mrs. Bambur said the measure had become necessary because of continued attacks and mounting losses of lives and property. She directed the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enforce it strictly, pledged a thorough investigation, and urged residents to remain calm.
The council chairperson did not identify those responsible for the attacks. One month later, the killings in Gwomu suggest the restrictions have not stopped the violence.
Federal Lawmaker Condemns “Deeply Saddening” Attack
“Deeply saddening” is how Audu Mohammed Lauya, the federal lawmaker representing Karim-Lamido, Ardo-Kola and Lau constituency, described the attack in a statement Saturday. He called on security agencies to urgently restore calm, apprehend those responsible, and provide humanitarian support to displaced families, while appealing to residents to avoid reprisals.
‘Calculated and Systematic Genocide’
Sammy Ayuba, an indigenous Christian farmer from Karim Lamido, told TruthNigeria that many communities in the area have lived with fear and recurring attacks for years.
“I can say that many of our communities have lived with fear and recurring attacks for years. Christian farmers have repeatedly been targeted by Fulani terrorists while working on their farms. These incidents have resulted in the loss of many lives, the displacement of families, and the destruction of livelihoods.”
Ayuba described the killings as “calculated and systematic genocide,” arguing that Christian farming communities have become repeated targets.
Another resident, Dogo David, told TruthNigeria he believes the attacks form part of a broader effort to force farming communities from their ancestral lands. He said that Fulani Ethnic Militia routinely graze cattle on cultivated farmland and that villagers who resist as the three slain farmers reportedly did become targets for retaliation.
According to David, ” Karim Lamido is a predominantly Christian county, and the destruction of farms during the planting season is intended to weaken local communities economically and force families from their lands”
Politician Condemns Killings
“No community should have to endure such pain and suffering. I call on the security agencies and the government to intensify efforts to restore lasting peace, protect innocent citizens, and ensure that those responsible for this heinous attack are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice. The perpetrators must not be allowed to act with impunity,” said Professor Jerome Nyameh, the Accord Party governorship candidate in Taraba State, who described the attack as senseless and heartbreaking.
Nyameh also prayed for the repose of those killed, the recovery of the injured, and comfort for grieving families.
Slow Response, Difficult Terrain
David further expressed frustration over the response of security forces. While he said they do not accuse soldiers of taking sides, he maintained that security personnel often arrive only after attacks have ended because of poor road access during the rainy season, making rapid deployment to remote farming settlements difficult.
Part of a Wider Pattern
The Karim Lamido killings reflect a broader pattern of violence across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where attacks by Fulani Ethnic Militia on predominantly Christian farming communities have drawn increasing attention from human rights organizations and security analysts.
A six-year report released June 30 by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) found that armed groups it classifies as Fulani Terror Groups accounted for about 44 percent of documented civilian killings between 2020 and 2025, compared with about 12 percent attributed to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) combined.
TruthNigeria sought comments from the Taraba State Police Command and relevant security authorities. Any response received will be reflected in subsequent updates.
For families now sheltering in Bambuka, Dadiya, Loh and Panya, the immediate concern is survival. With homes burned, farms abandoned and the planting season underway, many fear they may have nowhere safe to return unless security is restored.
Mike Odeh James is an award winning conflict reporter; Suleiman Gwoza is a conflict reporter. They write for Truthnigeria.
