Two soldiers lost their lives in a violent clash between farmers and herders in Bandawa community, Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, Taraba State, on Wednesday, August 21, 2025.

The conflict, which erupted in the early hours of today, led to intense fighting that engulfed farmlands and residential areas, with several homes reportedly set ablaze, displacing residents.

The soldiers, part of a peacekeeping mission in the area, were caught in the crossfire, according to authorities. Taraba State Police Command spokesperson, James Leshen, confirmed the incident, stating that additional security forces have been deployed to restore calm and prevent further violence.

A youth leader in Karim-Lamido, Musa Garba, described the soldiers’ deaths as a “tragic reminder” of the need for urgent government action to address the recurring conflict. The Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF) in Jalingo condemned the killings, warning that escalating violence could transform rural areas into “a killing field.” The group called for decisive measures from state and federal authorities to resolve the crisis.

This incident underscores the persistent insecurity driven by farmers-herders disputes in Taraba and other parts of Nigeria, where tensions over land and grazing rights continue to fuel deadly confrontations.