No fewer than 24 members of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) have been confirmed dead following a brutal attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The grim revelation was made by the Bishop of UMCN, Emmanuel I. Ande, in a press statement issued Tuesday in Jalingo, the state capital. The Bishop lamented the ongoing crisis between indigenous farmers and Fulani herders, describing the violence as “senseless and devastating.”
According to Bishop Ande, the attacks, which left over 30 people dead, saw 24 church members among the victims. The assaults also led to the destruction of 62 homes and the displacement of more than 5,000 people, plunging affected communities into chaos and mourning.
The Bishop listed the hardest-hit congregations as: UMCN Munga Lelau, UMCN Magami, UMCN No.1 Munga Dosso, UMCN Bunkabu, UMCN Bunkachi, and UMCN Ngurore Jabu. These churches, he said, have been ravaged, their worshippers scattered and traumatized.
“Violence only breeds more pain and suffering,” Ande said passionately, calling on both farmers and herders to embrace peace and dialogue. “There is a better way, one rooted in mutual respect, empathy, and the recognition of our shared humanity.”
The bishop did not mince words in his call for urgent government intervention. He urged both state and federal authorities to take immediate and sustained action to restore peace, protect vulnerable communities, and provide humanitarian relief to the thousands now displaced.
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To respond to the crisis, the UMCN Relief Committee has mobilized in partnership with the District Superintendents of Munga Lelau, Karim, and Munga Dosso, working to deliver food, shelter, and emotional support to the victims.
He further appealed to the public and humanitarian agencies for swift assistance, adding that direct contact can be made through Rev. Dr. Danladi Balutu, Rev. Monday Musa Marwa, and Rev. Geoffrey Jarama via +234 913 912 0515, +234 706 044 0111, and +234 814 299 3088 respectively.
The mass killing has reignited the national debate over the security crisis in Nigeria’s rural communities and the government’s capacity to protect lives in the face of rising attacks by armed groups.
