Fear and confusion don take over plenty communities for Lau local government area for Taraba state, as suspected bandits don renew dia attacks—

Dem don kill five people, wound plenty odas, kidnap one traditional ruler, and force hundreds of residents to run comot from dia homes.

Di communities wey di attack affect—Kunini, Jimlari, Garin-Magaji, Donnada, and Garin-Dogo—don see serious increase for violent attacks and kidnapping. Residents dey complain say armed groups still dey operate anyhow for di area.

One of di victims of dis new attack be di village head of Garin-Magaji, Jauro Tace, wey di bandits carry go with gun. Sources confirm say dem later release di traditional ruler after dem pay ransom.

Investigation show say five people die for different attacks wey happen between June 30 and July 27, 2026, and most of di incidents dey connected to failed or attempted kidnapping.

As our reporter go see di affected areas, e show say insecurity don really affect residents—hundreds of people, especially Fulani families, don run from dia settlements and dey find refuge for Garin-Dogo, wey be di headquarters of Garin-Dogo Ward.

Plenty of di displaced people, including women and pikin, talk say dem escape from Ruga Alhaji-Kadiri, Ruga Alhaji-Adamu, and Ruga Alhaji-Kamuwa after bandits attack and threaten dem many times.

Some of di displaced families dey stay for di house of di Legislative Leader of Lau Local Government Council, Dauda, where dem dey struggle to manage dis sudden problem.

Wen dem talk to one resident, Joseph Mustafa, e say fear don take over di local government area, as residents now dey live with worry every time.

“Nobody for Lau dey sleep with two eyes closed again because of wetin di bandits dey do,” Mustafa talk.

E remember say soon after Taraba state governor Agbu Kefas take office, e succeed for reducing banditry for di area, but e dey worry say di violent attacks don start again.

One senior government official wey no want make im name come out (becos e no get permission to talk for public) talk say di new attacks don force plenty farmers to abandon dia farmlands.

According to am, di situation fit make food shortage worse if security agencies no take urgent action.