Fintiri visits Lamurde communities over farmland dispute read riot act to trouble makers

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has paid a sympathy visit and commiserated with victims of the recent communal crisis in the affected communities in Lamurde local government area in the state.

Recall that there was a communal clash over a long-standing farmland dispute between Bachama and Chobbo communities on Friday 4th July 2025 where lives and properties in multiple were destroyed.

The skirmish which claimed about lives and burning of over 700 local houses as well as looting and maiming of food items and properties informed the state government to enforced a 24-hour curfew in the council (Lamurde) though was gradually relaxed with the return of normalcy.

Governor Fintiri in company government functionaries and top security commanders in Waduku, Lakan, and Rugange communities, advised both parties to embrace peace and coexist as brothers and sisters, stressing that no meaningful development 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.

Fintiri announced that henceforth, the government would not hesitate to confiscate or takeover 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 firmly warned.

“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,” Fintiri added.

According to him, the security forces deployed to the area would remain on the ground to maintain law and order urging the youths to desist from taking laws into their own hands instead seek peaceful and lawful means of resolving conflicts.

In his response, representative of the Bachama community at Waduku, Mr. Danladi Kotohula pointed to 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 the escalation.

At Lakan, Mr. Hygimus Mangu from the Chobo community stated that while farmland was a factor, the crisis had deeper underlying issues and acknowledged that the two communities had lived in peace for decades, with intermarriages serving as a symbol of their long-standing 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 in protecting lives and property, assuring Governor Fintiri of their readiness to live peacefully with one another going forward.

Chairman of Lamurde Local Government Council, Mr. Daniel Bulus, conducted the Governor round the scenes applauding him for the of the swift response, which he said played a significant role in halting the escalation of the crisis.