A violent confrontation has erupted between Tiv farmers and Fulani herders in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State following a dispute over access to a community pond. The clash has resulted in one person being injured and 62 homes destroyed across two farming communities.
The incident, which occurred in Tor Bali and Atongo villages, was reportedly triggered when a woman fetching water from the community pond was attacked by herders who had brought their cattle to drink from the same water source.
How the Conflict Began
According to Aboki Dauda, Chairman of Bali LGA who spoke to BenriNews, the woman had confronted the herders for allowing their cows to pollute the pond. "She raised the alarm after being beaten, and her calls for help sparked tension that spread quickly through the communities," Dauda explained.
"What happened here was terrible. You can see houses burnt and people displaced. Thank God, no life was lost," he added.
Ezekiel Gboo, a local farmer in Tor Baki who narrowly escaped with his life, recounted the horror: "We were on our farms when they came from all directions. I tried to escape but couldn't run far. They caught up with me—about 30 of them—beating me with sticks and machetes."
Government Intervention
In response to the crisis, the Taraba State Government quickly dispatched a delegation to assess the damage and provide emergency support. The team, led by Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Saviour Noku, delivered non-food relief materials to affected residents.
"You are peace-loving people," Noku told residents. "Let us learn from what has happened and give peace a chance. It is always cheaper to prevent a crisis than to respond to one after it explodes."
The delegation also visited the palace of the Chief of Bakundi to enlist the support of traditional institutions in maintaining peace. Hon. Veronica Alhassan, the member representing Bali One Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, who was part of the delegation, called for calm and reconciliation.
Related Disaster Relief
The same delegation extended relief materials to residents of Garba Chede community, also in Bali LGA, where a devastating windstorm last week killed six people and destroyed more than 200 homes.
The state government has reiterated its commitment to preventing further bloodshed and fostering lasting peace among farmers and herders in the region.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between farming and herding communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, where competition for natural resources, particularly water and land, continues to fuel conflict.
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