24-Hour Curfew Imposed on Mambilla Plateau Communities After Deadly Violence

A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on communities in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State following a series of violent attacks that left at least five people dead, including security personnel. The affected communities include Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji, where tension escalated after a fatal confrontation between a cattle herder and a farmer last Saturday.

The violence reportedly spread to nearby areas, with homes destroyed, livestock killed and additional casualties recorded between Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents expressed concern over the security response, with resident Ibrahim Abdu questioning the effectiveness of the military’s quick response unit stationed in Gembu, the Sardauna LGA headquarters.

He said the continued killings despite the presence of security personnel had raised concerns among residents about the enforcement of law and order. In response to the escalating violence, Sardauna council chairman Mohammed Umar declared the 24-hour curfew on Wednesday, with his media aide, Marvellous Heli, saying the measure was intended to restore calm, protect lives and property, and prevent further violence.

The council chairman also said security operatives had been deployed to the affected communities and that the situation was under control. The latest violence is part of a long history of conflict on the Mambilla Plateau, including major clashes in June 2017 involving pastoralists and crop farmers, followed by renewed violence in early 2018 linked to retaliatory attacks and cattle rustling.

The recurring conflicts have been associated with overlapping disputes over land ownership, ethnic identity, and competition for resources, leaving communities facing repeated displacement and loss of life.