Inside Story: How Individual Land Disputes Turn Community War, Leave Villagers Homeless in Adamawa
- A devastating land conflict between the Rigange and Chobo communities in Lamurde, Adamawa state, has left farmers and villagers homeless and malnourished
- A source provided a detailed report on how the conflict transitioned from a fight between individuals from the Rigange and Chobo communities to an inter-community crisis.
- Despite police intervention, the conflict has led to severe hunger and economic instability in the communities, with farmlands left empty and homes burned down
Lamurde, Adamawa State – A devastating land war has left a trail of hardship among neighbouring communities in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Source: Twitter
The Rigange and Chobo communities were embroiled in a deep conflict that led to the destruction of farmlands and homes of the people residing in the communities.
The tensions between the local groups escalated over farmland ownership, as the lives of farmers and villagers hung in the balance. With homes lost and hunger setting in, the people of Adamawa are facing a dire humanitarian situation.
The conflict escalated as a result of a misunderstanding between an individual from the Rigange community and one from Chobo, which led to a court ruling that neither community should farm on the disputed land pending trial.
Source discloses severity of the crisis
A source, who requested anonymity due to fear of victimisation, revealed to Legit.ng how the conflict escalated.
The source disclosed that farmers vacated their farmland, and homeowners lost their homes due to the severity of the crisis.
"After the court order, a few days later, a Chobo man came and ploughed the piece of land against the order of the court, and when a Rigange man saw it, he came and sowed seeds on the ploughed land, such became a big issue that escalated to the loss of properties and homes in the two communities"
" The two communities started fighting each other over the incident, leaving so many people homeless without farmland to cultivate", the source revealed.
The police's report on the crisis
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, explained that the command swiftly intervened as soon as they received information about the crisis to prevent it from escalating.
"When the information got to us, we immediately deployed our men to go to the community to rescue the victims affected due to the incident because the Chobo were retaliating harshly, which, if we delay, may lead to loss of lives too, not only properties.
"Our men went and were able to calm the situation down by keeping the affected victims under proper protection and security. Based on history, the Chobo live in a mountainous environment while the Rigange live in a dry land. So, the Chobo don't have a land to farm until they come down to the Rigange community, before they will be able to cultivate crops," he explained.
Nguroje further explained that the police used security measures to help rebuild the communities.
Firstly, " we invited all the heads of security personnel, the traditional rulers of the two communities, the youth leaders, religious leaders, age group leaders and the stakeholders and had a lecture on peace building and conflict resolution.
"We are currently investigating the root cause of the issue, and when we are fully done, we will take proper legal actions on the case, and those involved in the losses will face the law."
Negative effects of the conflict on livelihood
However, severe hunger and economic instability have gripped the communities. The farmlands remain empty, and everyone is afraid to go there. Their homes have been burnt down, along with all their stored food.
The Chobo people are known for farming, producing crops in large quantities. They are also known for marketing their products in a community called Tinno, where consistent trade takes place.
The state security advised the communities to always prioritise peace over conflict. Their lack of understanding has caused severe damage and pain to the less privileged, who are struggling for their livelihood.
Source: Facebook
Flood leaves residents homeless in Adamawa
Legit.ng previously reported that several lives, properties, and homes were destroyed as a severe flood hit Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State after heavy rainfall that started at 1 am and lasted until 11 am on Sunday, 27th July.
Legit.ng gathered that the unfortunate incident led many individuals to seek refuge, while some stood to rise above the water level, and others sat on fences.
The plight of parents protecting their babies from the floodwaters was evident, with water levels reaching neck-deep and rooftops in certain locations, and many people were missing. Valuables were relocated to rooftops and trees for safekeeping.
Source: Legit.ng
Obidah Fwa (Adamawa State Correspondent) Adamawa's regional correspondent, Obidah Acheli Fwa, is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the industry. She graduated from the University of Maiduguri (2022) and has earned numerous international certifications, including leadership training from Harvard Business School. Contact her at obidahfwa@gmail.com or 09033673803.
Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan (Editorial Assistant) Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan is a Legit.ng journalist with over a year of experience writing for Punch Newspaper. He received his BSc in Criminology and Security Studies from FUOYE. His background in media communications and criminology, with practical experience in research, interviewing, and digital media, allows him to craft compelling narratives that drive positive change. Fadehan is an Editorial Assistant on Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng. He is committed to ethical journalism, leveraging his skills to create a meaningful impact. Reach him at abdul-hafeez.fadehan@corp.legit.ng or 070622666732.
