Three people have been confirmed dead following a violent clash between worshippers of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church (GMC) in Taraba State. The incident occurred on Sunday in Munga Dasso village, located within the Karim-Lamido local government area.
According to Abdullahi Usman, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, the violence erupted after one faction reportedly unsealed a church building for service, triggering the confrontation. Usman confirmed that six suspects had been arrested, and additional security forces were deployed to the area to restore order and prevent further violence.
The conflict is believed to stem from a long-standing leadership dispute between the UMCN and GMC, a faction that recently broke away from the larger denomination. The tension had been escalating for some time, and the state government had intervened by sealing off several church properties in the region in an attempt to quell the unrest.
However, the reopening of the church building for Sunday services reignited the hostilities, leading to the fatal clashes. Worshippers expressed deep disappointment over the government’s inability to resolve the ongoing crisis, which they fear is undermining peace and security in the region.
The state government has yet to comment on the latest outbreak of violence, but local residents are calling for urgent action to address the leadership dispute and prevent further loss of life.
