LAMURDE, Adamawa State – A long-standing land dispute in Adamawa State turned deadly on Saturday, March 7, 2026, as a renewed communal crisis between the Chobo and Bachama communities in Lamurde Local Government Area left at least two people feared dead.
The violence, which reportedly erupted over a protracted disagreement regarding ancestral land boundaries, shattered the fragile peace in the region and sent shockwaves through the neighboring settlements.
The Outbreak of Violence
According to local sources, the tension reached a breaking point during the early hours of Saturday. What began as a heated confrontation quickly escalated into a full-blown skirmish as armed groups from both sides engaged in a violent struggle. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as residents fled for their lives, with the sound of gunfire echoing through the disputed territory.
While official figures are still being tallied, community leaders confirmed that two individuals lost their lives in the heat of the clash, while several others sustained varying degrees of injury.
A History of Hostility
The land dispute between the Chobo and Bachama ethnic groups is a “ticking time bomb” that has plagued the Lamurde axis for years. Despite previous mediation efforts by the State Government and traditional rulers, the underlying grievances regarding farming rights and territorial ownership remain unresolved, leading to these periodic explosions of violence.
Security Forces Deploy
The Adamawa State Police Command has reportedly deployed a combined team of tactical units and the military to the troubled area to restore order and prevent a reprisal attack.
A spokesperson for the command stated that a “buffer zone” has been established between the two communities, and a high-level investigative team has been dispatched to identify the masterminds behind the latest flare-up. “We will not tolerate any form of lawlessness,” the police warned. “Those responsible for this senseless loss of life will be brought to book.”
The Search for Lasting Peace
As the families of the victims prepare for burials, the Adamawa State Government has appealed for calm, urging both sides to sheath their swords and embrace dialogue. However, for the people of Lamurde, the fear remains that without a permanent resolution to the land boundary question, this latest tragedy will not be the last.
