Governor Declares 24-Hour Curfew As Militias Kill Scores in many Communities

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde Local Government Area following escalating violence that has claimed several lives and led to the destruction of communities in the area.

The curfew, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou, after renewed attacks and breach of peace in parts of the local government.

According to the statement, the state government views the disturbances as unacceptable and has directed security agencies to strictly enforce the curfew.

“The government views these disturbances as unacceptable and has directed security agencies to enforce the curfew strictly. Anyone or group found contravening this directive will be arrested and dealt with according to the law,” the statement said.

The development comes on the heels of Sunday’s attack on the Rugange community in Lamurde, where gunmen reportedly killed one person and set the entire Regange villages including Bagen, Korgosei and Sabon Pegi ablaze, forcing residents to flee their homes.

However, fresh reports emerging from the troubled area indicate that the situation may be more severe than initially reported. Local sources say two soldiers and a mobile police officer were reportedly shot during the violence and are feared dead, though security authorities have yet to issue an official confirmation.

Lamurde Local Government Area has in recent years witnessed intermittent communal tensions, particularly between the Tsobo and Bachama ethnic groups, with occasional clashes leading to loss of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the renewed violence has revived serious questions over an earlier security incident in the area.