Following the recent outbreak of communal violence in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, accompanied by top security commanders and government officials, paid a sympathy visit to the affected communities to commiserate with victims and assess the extent of the destruction.
The violent clash between the Bachama and Chobo communities was reportedly triggered by a long-standing dispute over farmland.
The confrontation led to the tragic loss of six lives, multiple injuries, the burning of over 700 round huts and flat-roofed houses, and the looting of food supplies.
In swift response to the crisis, Governor Fintiri ordered the immediate deployment of security personnel to the area and declared a 24-hour curfew, which has since been relaxed as calm gradually returns.
During his separate visits to Waduku, Lakan, and Rugange communities, Governor Fintiri appealed to both parties to embrace peace and coexist as brothers and sisters, stressing that no meaningful development can occur in an atmosphere of conflict and fear.
“I urge you to sheath your swords, forgive one another, and live together in peace. This government will not tolerate further violence. Anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law,” the governor warned.
Governor Fintiri further announced that, henceforth, the government would not hesitate to confiscate or take over any disputed farmland responsible for sparking unrest. “You must not trespass on land that does not belong to you. Such acts will no longer be tolerated,” he stated firmly.
He reassured residents of the government’s unwavering commitment to their safety. “It is our responsibility to protect you so you can go to your farms and markets and conduct your daily activities peacefully. Whatever it takes to restore peace, the government will do,” he added.
The governor emphasized that security forces deployed to the area would remain on the ground to maintain law and order, and he urged the youths to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, instead encouraging them to seek peaceful and lawful means of resolving conflicts.
Speaking on behalf of the Bachama community at Waduku, Mr. Danladi Kotohula identified the disputed farmland as the root cause of the conflict and blamed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area for failing to intervene early enough to prevent its escalation.
At Lakan, Mr. Hygimus Mangu from the Chobo community stated that while farmland was a factor, the crisis had deeper underlying issues. He acknowledged that the two communities had lived in peace for decades, with intermarriages serving as a symbol of their longstanding relationship.
Speaking at Rugange, Bishop Bulus Taya, representing the community, narrated the ordeal experienced by victims and appealed for immediate relief interventions from both government agencies and humanitarian organizations to cushion the effects of the tragedy.
Leaders of both warring communities expressed their commitment to peace and called for more robust government intervention to protect lives and property. They assured Governor Fintiri of their readiness to live peacefully with one another moving forward.
The Chairman of Lamurde Local Government Council, Mr. Daniel Bulus, who conducted Governor Fintiri around the scene of the destruction, thanked the governor for his swift response, which he said played a significant role in halting the escalation of the crisis.
