Crime

Mass Burial Held Amid Grief as Taraba Communities Mourn Victims of Brutal Attack

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 25th, 2025.

Mass Burial Held Amid Grief as Taraba Communities Mourn Victims of Brutal Attack

Emotions ran high on Saturday as heartbroken residents of Munga Lalau and Munga Doso in the Karim-Lamido area of Taraba State laid to rest numerous victims of a deadly attack by suspected herdsmen.

The assault, which took place in the early hours of Friday around 2 a.m., left a trail of devastation, with scores of villagers reportedly slaughtered in their sleep.

Eyewitnesses recounted how more than 50 armed assailants stormed the two communities on motorcycles, unleashing gunfire and chaos. One soldier involved in the rescue efforts revealed that at least 42 bodies had been recovered, with many individuals still unaccounted for.

Suleiman Joel, Chairman of the Munga Youth Forum, confirmed the tragic loss of life, emphasizing the scale and intent of the violence.

“We’re still retrieving corpses, and the death toll continues to rise. This was not a random incident—it was a targeted massacre,” he stated. “People returned home believing they were safe, only to be met with unimaginable horror. How do we explain this to their families?”

Survivors described the attackers as heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and machetes, systematically moving from house to house—burning buildings and killing anyone they encountered.

The incident has plunged the communities into deep mourning and renewed concerns over rural security and the safety of displaced persons returning to their homes.