Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State ordered the temporary closure of the Jumma’at Mosque in Donga Local Government Area after a violent clash over mosque leadership killed two people and left several injured. The clash was between two Muslim sects, Darika and Izala, disputing control of the mosque and when worship should commence during its renovation. The governor issued this directive during a peace meeting at the Palace of the Gara Donga attended by traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, community leaders, youth groups, and representatives from different Muslim sects.

The closure will last until the government constructs three new mosques for the Izala-Jos, Izala-Kaduna, and Darika sects to ensure fairness, peace, and freedom of worship for all groups. Governor Kefas reassured that Christian communities will also be considered in the spirit of balance and mutual respect. He appealed for forgiveness among factions, emphasizing that religion should promote unity and peace, not division. Security forces have been deployed to maintain calm, and the state government is committed to justice and lasting peace as the foundation for development in Taraba State.