Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Adamawa State Police Command has taken legal action by charging two suspects to court following a resurgence of communal violence that claimed lives and property in Lamurde Local Government Area late last month. The move comes amid heightened tensions between ethnic communities in the area and is part of ongoing efforts by security authorities to restore order and ensure accountability for the violence that erupted earlier this year.
According to a statement released by the police through SP Suleiman Nguroje, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, the two individuals were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court I in Yola on a five‑count charge relating to the recent flare‑up of hostilities in Lamurde. The formal charges were filed after the suspects were arrested in connection with attacks on civilians that have marked the latest chapter in a long‑standing dispute in the region.
The communal conflict, which authorities and residents alike have described as a renewed clash between the Bachama and Chobo communities, escalated on 3 January 2026, when three women were reportedly killed on their farmland near Tigno village. Local police quickly responded to reports of the violence by deploying operatives to the affected area, where they detained the suspects identified as William Joshua (30) and Ezekiel Luka (23), both of whom reside in Tigno village.
During the arrest operation, police also recovered a cache of items linked to the alleged crime, including 29 rounds of live ammunition, one AK‑47 rifle magazine and approximately ₦90,000 in cash, along with other objects believed to be connected to the violence.
Following their arraignment in Yola, the suspects were remanded in correctional custody pending further legal proceedings. Commissioner of Police Dankombo Morris has reiterated the command’s determination to ensure that those responsible for disturbances are brought before the courts and that justice is served in accordance with the law. The police appeal for calm has been echoed by community leaders who are urging residents to avoid acts that could inflame tensions further while investigators continue to work to trace additional persons believed to be involved in the conflict.
The Lamurde clashes have a history rooted in long‑standing land disputes and ethnic differences, with past outbreaks of violence leading to deaths, displacement and destruction of property. The renewed violence in early January — occurring despite recent peacemaking efforts — has underscored the fragility of peace in the area and the challenging task facing security agencies and local stakeholders in addressing the deep‑seated issues behind recurrent hostilities.
As the legal process continues, police maintain that investigations remain active and that efforts to locate and apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in the clash are ongoing. Meanwhile, residents and civil society representatives are calling for long‑term peacebuilding initiatives to complement law‑enforcement actions, stressing that sustainable peace will require addressing the underlying grievances that have fuelled communal discord in Lamurde and its surroundings.
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