Priests in the Catholic Diocese of Wukari in Taraba have protested against the unabating attacks, killings, and displacement of farmers across the southern zone of the state.

The priests say over 90,000 persons have been displaced, with over 80 persons killed so far, leaving many injured, while over 200 communities and worship centres have been destroyed.

Speaking shortly after the protest, the Vicar Pastoral of the diocese, Very Rev. Father James Yaropay, said that the attackers have taken over farmlands belonging to farmers of the affected areas.

”It has become expedient for us as a diocese to carry out this solidarity walk and to address you, Gentlemen of the Press, on the lingering and heartbreaking carnage that has been going on in Wukari Diocese, particularly Chanchanji Ward of Takum Local Government Area, and parts of Ussa and Donga Local Government Areas in Southern Taraba since September 2025,” he said.

More than 80 people have been killed so far, several others injured with various degrees of injuries, while over 200 communities and churches have been destroyed, and the residents, numbering over 90,000 Catholics, have been displaced.

The suspected militia who carry out these attacks usually come in the wee hours, mostly while people are sleeping, and launch the attacks, killing anyone in sight and setting houses and harvests ablaze.

However, in a statement, they asked that “as a matter of urgency, adequate security personnel should be mobilized and deployed to the hinterlands where this carnage is taking place unabated”.

“The government at all levels must be deliberate in ensuring security guarantees and bringing enablers and perpetrators of these dastardly acts or heinous crimes against humanity to justice through their immediate arrest and prosecution, irrespective of their ethnic, political, and religious affiliations,” the statement read.

They drew attention to the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons, who require immediate intervention by the government, humanitarian agencies at all levels, NGOs, philanthropists, and people of goodwill.

“The urgent needs of the IDPs include, among other things, relief materials such as foodstuffs, beddings, toiletries, medical health care, and temporary tents in order to guarantee their overall well-being so as to avert a major humanitarian disaster,” they said. (Channels TV)

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