The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested two men in connection with renewed communal violence in Lamurde Local Government Area of the state, which claimed the lives of three women.
The command’s spokesman, Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the women were killed on their farms during fresh hostilities between the Bachama and Chobo communities.
Nguroje said the victims, all from the Chobo community, were allegedly attacked by suspected Bachama militias around Tigno village on Saturday.
“The Adamawa State Police Command has swiftly responded to the renewed Lamurde communal conflict between the Bachama and Chobo communities, which resulted in the killing of three women and the arrest of two suspects,” he said.
The suspects were identified as William Joshua, 30, and Ezekiel Luka, 23, both residents of Tigno. They are currently in custody and assisting the police with ongoing investigations.
Items recovered from the suspects include 29 rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 magazine, ₦90,000 in cash and other offensive weapons.
The police spokesperson noted that the latest violence occurred barely two weeks after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri hosted a peace dinner for stakeholders from the affected communities at the Government House in Yola.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, appealed for calm and assured residents that the command was taking all necessary legal steps to apprehend those responsible for the killings and their sponsors.
He urged community leaders and residents to cooperate with security agencies to prevent further escalation.
The communal clashes, which first erupted last month, have reportedly claimed more than 18 lives, most of them women.
