Catholic Priest Burnt Alive Inside His Car By Armed Bandits In Taraba.
A Catholic priest known for his peace efforts has been killed in a brutal attack in Nigeria’s Taraba State. Reverend Father David Tanko was ambushed, murdered, and set alight inside his vehicle by armed bandits while traveling to mediate a local conflict.
The attack happened on Thursday in the Kufai Amadu area of Takum Local Government. Reports from the scene state the armed men stopped the priest, killed him, and then set both him and his car on fire. The blaze was so severe that his body was not recognizable.
Father Tanko, ordained for the Jalingo Diocese in 2008, was on his way to attend a meeting aimed at reconciling the long-standing tensions between the Tiv and Jukun communities in the region. His journey was cut short just miles from his goal of fostering peace.
Local residents who witnessed the aftermath of the horrific event have begun calling his death a martyrdom. They described the priest as a dedicated servant who ultimately gave his life for his faith and his community.
“This is a servant who offered his life to God and to the people,” one resident told our correspondent. Another added, “Rest now in peace, beloved servant of the Most High. The blood of the martyrs remains a pillar of our Christian faith.”
The Catholic Diocese of Jalingo is expected to release an official statement as police launch an investigation into the attack. This killing adds to the growing concerns over security in parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where clashes between farming and herding communities often spiral into wider violence.
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Father Tanko’s death has sent a wave of grief and anger through the local Christian community, who remember him not just as a clergyman, but as a man actively working to heal divisions in a troubled area.
Catholic Priest Burnt Alive Inside His Car By Armed Bandits In Taraba.
