The Munga Development Association (MUDA) has declared a three-day mourning period following a series of deadly attacks on the communities of Munga Lelau and Munga Dosso in the Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The announcement was made on Saturday during a press conference held in Jalingo, the state capital, by MUDA’s National President, Shamah W. Ezra.

Flanked by the executive of the association, Ezra described the attacks, allegedly carried out by armed herders, as “unprovoked” and “devastating,” resulting in the loss of over 40 lives, destruction of property worth millions of naira, and the displacement of many residents.

“The scale of destruction and the level of violence inflicted on our people is unimaginable. We have conducted mass burials for more than 40 victims, while many others remain unaccounted for,” Ezra said.

He added that homes, food stores, and other valuables were razed in the assault.

According to MUDA, the attacks began on the afternoon of Friday, May 23, 2025, with no intervention from security forces, despite the proximity of military and police units stationed in nearby Karim town, just 20 minutes away.

The attackers, described as armed men in military camouflage riding high-speed motorcycles, reportedly operated unchecked.

The association also refuted claims that the violence was a reprisal following an initial assault by Munga Lelau youths on Fulani settlements. MUDA strongly condemned the report,

MUDA stated that the violence had its roots in Bandawa, where a Fulani herder allegedly killed a farmer. In response, subsequent attacks by armed Fulani militias reportedly led to the deaths of seven Munga-Dosso residents and two from Munga-Lelau in Ngurore Jabu.

The Association emphasized that the deteriorating security situation in Karim-Lamido poses a grave threat not only to local residents but also to the region’s agricultural economy, particularly the Fadama dry season farming activities that attract farmers from across northern Nigeria.

MUDA called on both state and federal authorities to urgently address the crisis, warning that the perceived inaction could embolden further violence.
They also urged that recommendations from any forthcoming peace and reconciliation reports should not be shelved but implemented to ensure lasting peace.

“The principle of ‘live and let live’ must be upheld,” Ezra said. “Any intention by herders to displace indigenous communities and seize their lands must be rejected by all peace-loving Nigerians.”

The mourning period begins immediately as communities grapple with the aftermath of one of the most violent episodes in recent years in the region.