Chobo Militia Leader Vows Night Carnage in Adamawa's Bachama Communities

A chilling declaration has emerged from a suspected militant, purporting to represent the Chobo ethnic group, threatening organized nocturnal assaults on Bachama-speaking areas within Adamawa State's Lamurde Local Government. This has sparked widespread apprehension of renewed widespread fatalities in the volatile region. In a widely circulated social media video, the alleged militia head pledged that no individuals would be spared in the designated zones, stating that Chobo combatants have adopted a "night mode operation" approach. He elaborated that the militia intends to traverse communities under the cloak of darkness, targeting Bachama residences, a move that analysts fear could reignite and intensify the protracted communal dispute. The purported warlord explicitly stated in the footage: "There will be mass killings, there will be mass bloodshed, there will be wailing across Bachama land."

The individual, who identified himself as a pastor, intertwined the ethnic grievances with religious pronouncements. He drew a notable parallel between the Chobo tribe and Israel, claiming that despite its smaller size, the Chobo people would triumph over their adversaries, much like Israel, in his view, has consistently emerged victorious in conflicts. This analogy served to underscore his confidence in what he termed the tribe's unwavering resolve to conquer all opposition.

This latest threat surfaces against a backdrop of enduring friction between the Bachama and Chobo communities in Lamurde. For the past year, this area has been gripped by a land and communal crisis, leading to fatalities, displacement of inhabitants, and extensive property damage. Despite numerous peace accords facilitated by government bodies, reports confirm that hostilities have persistently re-emerged.

Furthermore, in the video, the militia commander leveled serious accusations against Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta. He claimed she was bankrolling Bachama combatants and exacerbating the prolonged conflict. He further asserted that the Deputy Governor served as the political mastermind behind assaults targeting the Chobo populace and held her accountable for the persistent unrest in the locality. Crucially, these assertions were made without any supporting evidence provided in the video and remain unconfirmed by independent sources.

This recent declaration is anticipated to intensify anxieties among the populace of Lamurde, a local government area shared by both Bachama and Chobo communities, which has already endured months of devastating clashes, retaliatory attacks, and forced displacement.