"A Cry for Mercy": 90,000 Displaced as Catholic Priests Protest Relentless Killings in Taraba State


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-By Ruben Mario Brodrick 

WUKARI, TARABA — In a somber and powerful display of desperation, the clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Wukari took to the streets on February 15, 2026, to sound a frantic alarm over a wave of violence they say has left the southern part of Taraba State in ruins.

​The Human Cost of the Conflict

​Led by the Vicar Pastoral, Very Rev. Fr. James Yaropay, the protesting priests revealed staggering statistics that paint a picture of a region under siege. Since the escalation began in September 2025:

  • ​90,000+ individuals have been forced to flee their homes.
  • ​Over 80 lives have been confirmed lost.
  • ​200+ communities, including homes and churches, have been razed to the ground.

​A Pattern of Terror

​The clergy highlighted a terrifying "dawn raid" tactic used by suspected militias. These attackers reportedly strike in the early morning hours, burning settlements and seizing ancestral farmlands. The displacement has not only created a refugee crisis but has also triggered a severe food shortage, as farmers can no longer access their fields in the Takum, Ussa, and Donga areas.

​Accusations of Neglect

​The protest wasn't just about the attacks—it was about the silence that followed. Community leaders joined the priests in accusing state and federal authorities of turning a blind eye. Despite repeated pleas for assistance over the past several months, local leaders claim their calls for help have been met with "unanswered silence."

​"Our people are dying, our churches are in ashes, and our fields are being taken over," the clergy stated, emphasizing that the humanitarian situation has reached a breaking point.


​The Demands: A Call for Action

​The Diocese of Wukari has issued an urgent four-point demand to the government:

  1. ​Immediate Security Deployment: To reclaim occupied territories and protect vulnerable villages.
  2. ​Accountability: The swift arrest and prosecution of those fueling the militia attacks.
  3. ​Humanitarian Corridor: Emergency provision of food, shelter, and medical supplies for the 90,000 displaced.
  4. ​Economic Protection: Ensuring farmers can safely return to their lands to prevent a total famine in the region.

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