Peace Accord Is Failing, Karimjo Community Alleges More Killings in Karim Lamido

 

Karim Lamido, Taraba State – The Karimjo community of Karim Lamido Local Government Area has raised serious concerns over the collapse of the peace accord signed in December 2025, alleging that suspected Wurkun militias continue to launch violent attacks against them despite government assurances.

 

According to Comrade Uba Ibrahim, Acting National Youth President of the Karimjo Community Development Association, the community is alarmed by the repeated breaches of the peace agreement, describing it as "a crocodile dance yielding labor in futility." He lamented that while the Taraba State Government had organized a comprehensive peace and reconciliation event, chaired by a former acting governor of Wurkun extraction, and established a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to monitor compliance, the Wurkun militias have openly defied the accord.

 

The community highlighted two major incidents since the accord. The first involved the murder of Mai Ungwa Iliya Saidu, a respected community member, who was killed while supervising his cassava farm just weeks after the peace pact. Despite the provocation, the Karimjo community chose restraint and did not retaliate, demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law.

 

The second and more devastating attack occurred on February 7, 2026, when Wurkun militias launched a coordinated assault on Ungwa Rimi, one of the Karimjo settlements. Eyewitnesses reported that more than 50 residential houses were deliberately set on fire, forcing residents, including women and children, to flee into the bush for safety. Valuable property and food supplies were destroyed, leaving the victims in dire need of assistance.

 

Comrade Ibrahim disclosed that both incidents were officially reported to security agencies and relevant government authorities, but to date, no investigations have been launched, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrators continue to face no legal consequences for violating the peace accord.

 

"The lack of action raises serious questions about the government's commitment to ensuring justice and protecting all citizens equally," Comrade Ibrahim said. He also warned that some Wurkun individuals have openly boasted of their political influence, claiming they can block Karimjo requests or applications to government authorities.

 

Despite these provocations, the Karimjo community has remained law-abiding and committed to peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that all ethnic groups have equal rights under the law. They stressed that no community should be above the law due to political connections or influence.

 

The community has called on Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, the Taraba State House of Assembly, security agencies, and all relevant authorities to urgently intervene, launch a comprehensive investigation into the murder of Mai Ungwa and the February 7 attacks, and ensure that all individuals involved are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law. They also urged the government to ensure equal treatment for all ethnic groups in enforcement of justice.

 

Comrade Ibrahim concluded by reiterating the community's determination to remain law-abiding citizens while urging government intervention to restore peace and security in Karim Lamido LGA, stressing that the survival and development of the community depend on prompt and decisive action by state authorities.