Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of six locally fabricated firearms during a security operation in Karim Lamido Local Government Area, as part of efforts to curb escalating communal violence.
In a statement released on Friday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP James Leshen, said the operation was carried out on Tuesday, May 14, 2025, around noon. It was in response to recent clashes between farmers and herders in the area.
The coordinated operation was led by CSP Ayuba Yohanna and involved operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, 40 PMF personnel, and officers from the Karim Lamido Division.
According to the statement, the team raided a Fulani settlement in Wuro Guga, near Jen town, suspected of being a base for herders allegedly responsible for fatal attacks on Munga Dosso and Bandawa villages. The attacks, which took place on three separate occasions, reportedly claimed the lives of at least ten people.
“Upon arrival, the suspects fled into the nearby forest,” the statement noted. “A thorough search of the area led to the recovery of one locally made revolver pistol, one locally made revolver gun, four single-barrel firearms, and nine live cartridges.”
In a related incident, two additional individuals were arrested while attempting to set fire to huts abandoned by displaced Fulani residents.
The Command stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend those who fled the scene, while security has been reinforced in the affected communities to prevent further unrest.
Commending the operatives for their swift action, Taraba State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel S. Bretet, psc(+), reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property. He warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the peace will be dealt with decisively.
“We remain committed to ensuring law and order across the state,” CP Bretet said. “All those responsible for violence and unrest will be held accountable.”