Taraba community faults release of arrested Fulani gunmen by police -Police denies knowledge

From Nick Yashi, Jalingo

Following the recent attacks in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba state, the Munga Dosso community has claimed that the Divisional Police Office in Karim Lamido has released some arrested armed Fulani herdsmen allegedly responsible for. the attacks. 

The group made the disclosure through their representative, Mr Robert Bukar, during a press conference in Jalingo late Sunday. 

While tracing the attacks on the community to 1991, the group also complained that their members were often arrested and sent to prison while the perpetrators of the attacks were never "brought to justice".

They faulted the government's attitude in the aftermath of last month's attack on the community which claimed lives, properties and left a humanitarian crisis. 

The group said: "In the recent attack on May 12th, 2025 that claimed the lives of 8 young people of whom some were coming from their farms and the other one was coming from school to see his family; approaching home they were attacked by well-armed Fulani terrorists. They shot and butchered them. 12 sustained different degrees of injuries. 

"It is only in the recent crisis that the Fulani were arrested with assault rifles by the Divisional Police Headquarters in Karim Lamido but were released the next day to go and continue their normal routine attacks. 

"Moreover, in all these, our people are often arrested and taken from police stations to prison but none of the perpetrators were brought to justice.

"The aftermath of such violence has tragically resulted in not only fatalities but also a significant number of injuries and displacements. It has led to a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention". 

"Notably, no government representatives from federal, state, or local levels visited the community after this incident.

The group also regretted that efforts at reconciliation had been "thwarted by unresolved grievances and the lingering effects of violence", expressing the need for dialogue and addressing the root causes of the crisis. 

The group added: "Local leaders, supported by national and international stakeholders must prioritize initiatives that foster understanding and collaboration.

"Addressing the root causes of the crisis, promoting peaceful coexistence, and ensuring equitable access to resources are critical steps toward healing these communities and preventing further loss of lives".

The group vehemently denied the claim that its members were responsible for attacks on the Fulani group and called on the Taraba state government to investigate the killings. .

They also advanced suggestions on how to curb the ongoing crisis. 

"Munga Dosso community requests that the Peace and Justice Committee set up by the Governor of Taraba State should thoroughly investigate the incident. 

Munga Dosso community respectfully requests and prays for Increased security deployment to allow farmers to safely return to their farms, a thorough investigation to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of the recent attacks, strict enforcement of the government's law prohibiting open grazing"

But the Taraba state Command of the Nigeria Police said they were not aware of any such arrest of armed Fulani herdsmen by the Divisional Police Office in Karim Lamido..

The Spokesman of the Command, ASP James Lashen, told our reporter that the Command was not aware and also expressed doubt if any of such could happen. 

He said: "it is not true that the Police are compromising. Even before the incident two weeks ago where about 30 people were killed, the Commissioner of Police held a stakeholders meeting involving the herdsmen and the farmers. A Peace Accord was signed. The Police don't compromise and even if we did, we wouldn't go  to that length. If at all people were arrested, there would definitely be an investigation

According to Lashen, the Commissioner of Police had carried out an on-the-spot visit to the crisis area and condoled with the people. 

He added that the Command had beefed up security in the area with the deployment of mobile police and intelligence officers.