TAKUM, Taraba – A coordinated terror attack has devastated St. James the Great Catholic Church in Adu, Takum LGA, leaving a trail of death and destruction just days after intelligence reports warned of imminent strikes in the region.
The assault, which took place around March 23, confirms a security alert issued on March 19 that flagged the Chenchenji–Yelwa axis for high-risk activity. Witnesses say the attackers moved with precision, smashing windows and vandalising parish buildings and the priest’s residence.
Intelligence Warnings Ignored
The strike materialised exactly as predicted by internal security memos, which warned of coordinated assaults across Taraba and Southern Kaduna. This follows a recent raid in Tor-Damisa where five people were killed, signalling a premeditated pattern of aggression.
Outrage Over State Negligence
The failure to prevent a predicted attack has sparked a wave of fury among Nigerians, who accuse the government of “sleeping” while citizens are slaughtered.
“How do you have the intelligence, the date, and the exact location, yet the terrorists still had a field day?” asked security analyst Kabir Adamu. On social media, the hashtag #SaveTaraba trended as Nigerians slammed the “reactive rather than proactive” nature of the security forces.
“In Nigeria, intelligence is only used to arrest protesters, not to stop terrorists,” one viral post read. Others questioned why the Taraba State Government and the military failed to fortify the Chenchenji–Yelwa axis despite the March 19 ‘Red Alert.’
Humanitarian Catastrophe
Data from the Catholic Diocese of Wukari and Aid to the Church in Need paints a grim picture. Since late 2025:
- Over 90,000 people have been displaced from their ancestral homes.
- Dozens of villagers have been confirmed killed in this latest wave.
- Sustained assaults continue to target Takum LGA, forcing thousands into makeshift camps with zero aid.
Communities Under Siege
Local leaders say the destruction of the church is a symbolic blow to a region already reeling. With the Chenchenji–Yelwa axis now a flashpoint, residents are calling for the immediate sack of security heads who failed to act on the documented warnings.
As of press time, the military has reportedly deployed reinforcements, but for the 90,000 displaced, the intervention has come far too late.
