MAMBILLA PLATEAU UNREST: DSS OFFICER REPORTEDLY KILLED AS SARDAUNA COUNCIL IMPOSES CURFEW
Stakeholders Sue for Peace, Urge Residents to Reject Rumours and Retaliation
JALINGO, TARABA STATE — September 16, 2026
Tension has escalated in parts of Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State following reports of violent unrest around Mbamnga District, with a Department of State Services, DSS, officer reportedly killed while responding to the crisis.
The incident, which has also reportedly claimed the lives of civilians and left several others injured, has prompted the Sardauna Local Government Council to impose an immediate 24-hour curfew on Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji communities.
The circumstances surrounding the violence, including the exact number of casualties and what triggered the incident, remain subject to verification, as conflicting accounts continue to emerge from the affected areas.
Reports of Attacks and Destruction
According to accounts from local sources, violence was reported in Wuro Geroji, a settlement in the Mbamnga area, where houses were allegedly destroyed and some set ablaze.
Some residents also reported attacks involving individuals armed with machetes and spears.
One elderly man was reportedly killed while tending his cattle, while another victim, identified by local sources as Isa Toungo Ardo from Wuro Geroji, was also reported killed.
There were further reports that security personnel comprising the DSS, Police and military personnel came under attack while attempting to intervene.
A DSS officer was subsequently reported killed during the intervention.
However, these accounts have not been independently verified, and the identities of those responsible for the attacks remain unconfirmed.
Distress Calls Raise Fresh Concerns
Concerns heightened following reports of residents in Barkal and surrounding communities being unable to reach family members amid the unfolding crisis.
One account said a resident attempting to contact relatives after receiving information that attackers were approaching suddenly lost communication with them.
Claims that some of the individuals could have been killed remain unverified.
The reports have prompted calls for the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to Mbamnga, Mbara, Geroji, Barkal and neighbouring communities to protect civilians and prevent further violence.
Sardauna Council Declares 24-Hour Curfew
In response to the unrest, the Executive Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council, Hon. Mohammed J. Umar, declared an immediate 24-hour curfew covering Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji.
The announcement, signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Marvelous Heli, said security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities to maintain law and order and protect lives and property.
The council directed security agencies to strictly enforce the curfew and arrest anyone found violating the directive.
Traditional and community leaders were also urged to mobilise their people towards peace, restraint and compliance with the directive.
Residents were advised to remain indoors, avoid provocation and report suspicious activities to security operatives.
Sardauna Stakeholders Sue for Peace
Amid the rising tension, the Sardauna Local Government Stakeholders Forum has appealed to residents across the local government to remain calm and reject actions or statements capable of escalating the situation.
In a statement dated September 14, the forum said it received reports of the incident in Mbara Village, Mbamnga District, with deep concern.
The statement, signed by the Chairman of the Sardauna LGA Stakeholders Forum, Chief GeeTee Kataps, Esq., called on residents, regardless of tribe or faith, to exercise restraint.
The stakeholders urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and youth leaders to help prevent further escalation by encouraging dialogue and discouraging rumours and retaliatory actions.
The forum also stressed that while peace must be pursued, lawlessness should not be tolerated.
According to the statement, security agencies had been notified and were working to restore normalcy, while anyone found culpable would be made to face the law.
The stakeholders described Sardauna LGA as a home of peace and hospitality on the Mambilla Plateau and urged residents to protect that heritage.
They further called on residents to go about their lawful activities and cooperate with security agencies and traditional institutions.
A Region With a History of Communal Violence
The latest incident has renewed memories of previous communal conflicts on the Mambilla Plateau, particularly the violence recorded in 2017, which resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement.
The history of conflict has heightened concerns among residents and community leaders over the possibility of renewed violence.
Against this background, there are growing calls for authorities to establish the facts surrounding the latest incident before unverified information triggers further tension.
Calls for Investigation and Protection of Civilians
Residents and concerned stakeholders are calling on the Taraba State Government and security agencies to urgently strengthen security in the affected communities and protect civilians irrespective of their ethnic or religious background.
There are also calls for a comprehensive investigation into the reported killing of the DSS officer and civilians, the alleged destruction of property and reports of attacks on security personnel.
Such an investigation is expected to establish the immediate and underlying causes of the crisis, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
For now, community leaders are urging residents to remain calm, avoid reprisals and refrain from spreading unverified information.
As security personnel work to restore normalcy, the immediate priority remains the protection of civilians, prevention of further bloodshed and the restoration of peaceful relations among communities on the Mambilla Plateau.
The situation remains fluid, and further developments will depend on official security assessments and independent verification of reports from the affected communities.
