A violent confrontation has erupted between Tiv farmers and Fulani herders in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, resulting in 62 homes being razed and one person sustaining injuries. The conflict, which engulfed Tor Bali and Atongo villages, was triggered by a dispute over access to a community pond.
According to Aboki Dauda, Chairman of Bali LGA who spoke to reporters, the violence began when a woman fetching water from the community pond was allegedly attacked by herders who had brought their cattle to drink from the same water source.
"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."
Survivor's Harrowing Experience
Ezekiel Gboo, a farmer from Tor Baki who narrowly escaped with his life, recounted his terrifying ordeal: "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."
The incident has created palpable fear in the area, prompting swift action from the Taraba State Government, which dispatched a delegation to assess the damage and provide emergency assistance to affected residents.
Government Response
Led by Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Saviour Noku, the government team delivered non-food relief materials to the affected communities and urged residents to embrace peace.
"You are peace-loving people," Noku told the 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, representing Bali One Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, was part of the delegation and echoed calls for calm and reconciliation.
In a related development, the 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.
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