Fear has gripped residents of Donadda community in Taraba State after unidentified attackers ambushed three commercial motorcyclists, killing two and leaving another critically injured along the Donadda–Kunini road.
The deadly attack occurred on Monday evening, a market day, as the victims were reportedly travelling to Kunini when they were intercepted by the assailants. The attackers allegedly inflicted severe machete wounds on the riders before fleeing with two motorcycles.
The victims who lost their lives have been identified as Umar, a native of Yusa Fulani, and Gyada, a grandson of Ngida Adoshi (Nyaki) from Donadda community. Both men reportedly died at the scene due to the severity of their injuries.
A third victim, whose identity had not been confirmed at the time of reporting, survived the assault but sustained life-threatening injuries. The victim, believed to be from Kunini, is currently receiving medical treatment.
The latest killings have renewed fears over persistent insecurity along the Donadda–Kunini axis. Residents said the route has witnessed several violent attacks over the years, making it a major security concern for travellers and local communities.
Community members recalled a similar incident on the same road several years ago, when two sons of the family of Alhaji Usman Madu, the current Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, were reportedly killed while travelling to Jalingo on their way to Zaria for military training.
Following Monday’s attack, residents appealed to security agencies and the Taraba State Government to launch a thorough investigation, arrest those responsible, and increase security patrols along the road to protect commuters from further violence.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, said police had begun efforts to track down the attackers.
“We received information about the incident from the Divisional Police Officer. The attack occurred around a border community with Adamawa State, and efforts are being intensified to track and apprehend the suspects,” Mshelizah said.
