JUST IN: Adamawa Police review viral video, tighten security in Lamurde over tension concerns

Crime Diary

YOLA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Adamawa State Police Command says it is reviewing a viral social media video containing statements capable of heightening tensions between members of the Bachama and Chobo communities in Lamurde Local Government Area.

The Command, in a statement on Saturday, expressed concern over the content of the video and assured residents that proactive security measures had been put in place to prevent any threat to public peace, safety and order.

According to the police, security deployments have been reviewed and strengthened in strategic locations across the affected communities, while intelligence-gathering efforts have been intensified to identify and address potential security threats.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Kabiru Umar Hassan, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Abubakar Haruna, to further strengthen security measures in the area and coordinate confidence-building engagements with community leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders.

The police said the initiative is aimed at sustaining peace, promoting dialogue and preventing any breakdown of law and order.

“The Command views the development with serious concern and wishes to assure residents that proactive security measures have been emplaced to prevent any threat to public peace, safety and order,” the statement said.

The Command also urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against the spread of unverified information, inflammatory comments, hate speech and other content capable of inciting violence or creating panic.

Community leaders, religious leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders were encouraged to support ongoing peacebuilding efforts and promote mutual understanding among residents.

The latest development comes months after deadly communal clashes rocked parts of Lamurde Local Government Area.

In March, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri imposed a 24-hour curfew on affected communities following violent confrontations that claimed lives and displaced residents.

The violence was linked to a long-running land boundary dispute between the Bachama and Chobo communities, which escalated into deadly attacks and reprisals.

The police said they remain committed to maintaining peace and security in the area and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could help prevent violence.

Authorities have continued to monitor the situation closely as efforts intensify to prevent a recurrence of the communal unrest that previously destabilised the affected communities.