By Sahel Reporters – Yola
The Pene Da Bwatiye Development Association Worldwide has expressed deep sorrow and grave concern over the recent violent conflict between the Chobbo community and some Bwatiye communities within the Bachama Kingdom.
In a press statement issued by the Association, the group condemned the crisis, describing it as a painful setback in the long-standing fraternal relationship between the two communities.
According to the Association, the Chobbo and Bwatiye people of the Bachama Kingdom have for generations lived together as brothers and sisters, united by unbreakable ties of kinship, shared heritage, and inter-community marriages.
This historic bond has, for centuries, served as a foundation for peace, trust, and mutual prosperity across the kingdom.
However, the Association lamented that this strong sense of unity and trust is now being eroded, replaced by rising tensions, mistrust, and hostility.
The recent violence, they noted, has dangerously undermined the centuries-old relationship and resulted in tragic confrontations over farmland, leading to the breakdown of peace.
The crisis, the Association disclosed, has left a trail of devastation. Lives have been lost on both sides, a development they described as tragic and utterly unacceptable.
Many individuals sustained serious injuries, while homes and properties were looted and destroyed through acts of arson, causing widespread displacement and hardship.
In a strong condemnation of the violence, the Pene Da Bwatiye Development Association stated that the bloodshed is not only inhuman but also a violation of the ancestral bonds that define the Chobbo and Bwatiye peoples.
They extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and sympathies to those injured or displaced.
The Association commended the prompt intervention of the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Right Honourable Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, for his leadership in imposing a 24-hour curfew to contain the violence. They noted that the curfew played a crucial role in halting further escalation and safeguarding lives and property.
While acknowledging the importance of the curfew as a short-term measure, the Association stressed the need for deeper and more permanent solutions to the crisis.
They called on the state government to immediately set up a high-powered, impartial commission of inquiry to investigate the root and immediate causes of the conflict.
The commission, they said, should identify all individuals and groups involved in instigating the violence, killings, and destruction, and recommend clear, actionable measures to prevent a recurrence.
They further urged that all perpetrators be brought to justice without delay and called for sustained security presence in affected areas to ensure peace and protect lives.
The Association also appealed to community leaders, elders, government officials, and traditional rulers to initiate a sincere, inclusive, and urgent peace and reconciliation process.
Such a process, they emphasized, must address the underlying causes of mistrust and rebuild the fractured unity based on the communities’ centuries-old relationship and shared destiny.
In conclusion, the Association described the violence as a tragic scar on the shared history of the Chobbo and Bwatiye people. They urged all members of both communities to reject further violence, reaffirm their mutual bonds, and work collectively towards healing and peace.
The Pene Da Bwatiye Development Association affirmed its commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at justice and lasting peace and called on the government to act decisively on their demands.
Sahel Reporters News
