Bwatiye communities cry out over renewed violence in Adamawa

From Billy Graham Abel Yola

Tension is mounting in Adamawa State following fresh accusations by the Rigange and Waduku communities in Lamurde Local Government, over alleged attacks on their people by armed men believed to be from the Tsobo (Pirei) tribe.

In a joint press conference yesterday, community leaders revealed that heavily armed assailants stormed the two historic Bwatiye communities on July 7 and 11, 2025, unleashing violence that left ten people feared dead, scores hospitalized, and over 717 households displaced. Property worth an estimated N7 billion were reportedly looted or destroyed in the violence.

The leaders, led by Gregory Abednego; D.K. Rigange , Yakwamo Gaddiel and Danladi Kotohula , described the incident as “an unprovoked act of aggression” that threatened peace in Adamawa and risked spiraling into wider ethnic conflict if not addressed decisively.

They alleged that after the attacks, Tsobo youth leader, Luka Elisha and former community chairman  Zachariah Gumba staged a protest at Tigno Police Station on August 6, 2025, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the release of missing youths. Less than two days later, houses belonging to Bwatiye residents in Tigno,were set ablaze despite a security-imposed curfew.

The Bwatiye leaders also raised the  alarm over what they described as “habitual violence” by the Tsobo people, citing previous attacks on Nomadic Fulani in 2012, Dadians in 2012, Hausa settlers in 2020, and the Gyakan community in 2024.

While acknowledging efforts of the state government and security agencies, the communities accused authorities of negligence in probing allegations that some Tsobo youths had impersonated police officers, while wielding prohibited arms including: AK-47, G3 rifles, and over 5,000 rounds of live ammunition.

“We are deeply disturbed by the lack of thorough investigation into these atrocities,” the statement read. “The silence must not be misconstrued as weakness. Our people cannot be taken for granted.”

The Bwatiye leaders further dismissed claims by the Tsobo of ancestral land rights, insisting that the Pirei were resettled from mountain settlements in 1952,under the reign of the late Homun HRH Ngbale Ali Mangawa Ngbasoyofe Ragobullah, and therefore ,had no claim to the fertile lowland farmlands belonging to Rigange and Waduku.

Appealing for calm among their people, the leaders urged all Bwatiye sons and daughters, both home and abroad, to resist reprisals and instead report irregularities to their traditional rulers.

“The Pirei (Tsobo) have declared war against us. We shall not play big brother anymore, but we call on our people to remain calm and allow justice to take its course,” they declared.

The communities ended their address with a strong call on both the Federal Government and Adamawa State authorities to act urgently to forestall escalation, ensure justice, and restore peace.