Police Fire Teargas at Women Protesting Husbands’ Killings by Herdsmen in Taraba

Hundreds of women from Munga Lelau in Taraba State’s Karim Lamido Local Government Area staged a protest on Tuesday over the recent killings of their husbands, allegedly by herdsmen. Dressed in black and carrying placards and green leaves, the women marched several kilometers to Karim town, the council headquarters, demanding urgent government intervention in the ongoing communal violence that has rocked the area.

The demonstrators, chanting sorrowful songs, called for an immediate halt to the movement of Fulani herders in the region. Rejoice Ishmael Sunday, who led the protest, accused security operatives of complicity in the attacks, which she described as “genocide.” She urged the state government to deploy more security forces to the area to protect residents from further bloodshed.

“Our husbands are gone. We are being killed in our sleep. We are crying out for help,” Rejoice said. “The government must act now to protect us.”

The women also appealed to the state to ensure transparency and fairness in the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry currently investigating the crisis. They emphasized that justice and inclusivity are essential for any meaningful peace to be achieved.

Karim Lamido council chairman Bitrus Danjos addressed the protesters, commending them for maintaining a peaceful approach and promising to forward their concerns to relevant authorities. He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to collaborating with security agencies and community leaders to restore peace.

However, the protest turned tense when security personnel reportedly fired teargas to disperse the crowd, citing a lack of prior notification to the police. While some women fled in panic, no injuries were reported.

The demonstration comes shortly after a peace accord was signed by several ethnic and community groups in the area — including the Bandwa, Jenjo, Fulani, and Munga — following months of deadly clashes. Over 40 people were recently killed in Munga Lelau, with property worth millions of naira destroyed in the violence.