Jelili Gbadamosi
No fewer than five people have been killed and hundreds of residents displaced following a fresh wave of bandit attacks on communities in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State over the past month.
The renewed attacks have forced residents to flee communities including Kunini, Jimlari, Garin-Magaji, Donnada and Garin-Dogo, where kidnappings and violent assaults have become increasingly frequent.
Among those abducted was the village head of Garin-Magaji, Jauro Tace, who was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint and later regained his freedom after a ransom was allegedly paid.
Residents said the five victims were killed in separate attacks carried out between June 30 and July 27, 2026, most of them during attempted kidnappings.
A visit to the affected communities showed that hundreds of displaced residents, particularly Fulani families, have abandoned their homes and are now taking refuge in Garin-Dogo, the headquarters of Garin-Dogo Ward.
Many of the displaced, mostly women and children, fled from Ruga Alhaji-Kadiri, Ruga Alhaji-Adamu and Ruga Alhaji-Kamuwa to escape the attacks. Several families are currently being sheltered at the residence of the Legislative Leader of Lau Local Government Council, Dauda.
One of the residents, Joseph Mustafa, said fear has taken over the communities, with many people unable to sleep because of the persistent attacks.
“Nobody in Lau sleeps with both eyes closed anymore because of the activities of the bandits,” he said.
Mustafa noted that insecurity had reduced shortly after Governor Agbu Kefas assumed office but lamented the recent resurgence of banditry.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Chairman of Lau Local Government Council, Peter Julius, were unsuccessful.
However, a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that the attacks had forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, raising fears of food shortages if the situation persists.
“The activities of the bandits have chased farmers away from their communities. There is the likelihood of hunger if the security agencies do not address the situation urgently,” the official said.
Meanwhile, two victims of the attacks, Musa Umar and Alhaji Abdul Biro, are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. They said the attackers were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, leaving residents defenceless.
Residents have appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen operations in the affected communities to restore peace and facilitate the safe return of displaced persons.
