Lamurde Crisis: CAN Condemns Renewed Violence, Calls for Calm, Ceasefire

By Tgnews Reporter 

As fresh flames of communal strife engulf Lamurde Local Government Area, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Adamawa State Chapter has issued a resounding condemnation of the escalating violence between the Bachama and Chobo communities, urging an immediate ceasefire and renewed dialogue to salvage fragile peace.

The outbreak, which ignited on the night of December 7 with armed incursions into Bachama settlements like Waduku and Rigange, has already claimed lives, razed homes, and ravaged food stores, leaving a trail of devastation that CAN Chairman Rev. Dr. Joel Danjuma Manzo described as “deeply saddening” and “most disheartening” in a strongly worded statement.

What began as a flare-up over longstanding land disputes and ethnic grievances has rapidly unraveled years of painstaking peacebuilding by the state government, religious leaders, and civil society groups.

“These communities have coexisted peacefully for generations, bound by intermarriages and shared histories,” Rev. Manzo lamented, highlighting how the sudden betrayal of trust has shattered that unity.

The violence prompted Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to declare a 24-hour curfew across Lamurde and adjacent areas on December 8, a measure aimed at quelling the chaos but underscoring the crisis’s severity.

In a plea for de-escalation, CAN implored both Bachama and Chobo factions to “remain calm and immediately cease hostilities,” creating space for mediated talks.

“Let wisdom prevail as authorities labor to restore lasting peace and mutual understanding,” the statement urged, while calling for sustained security deployments to protect lives and property amid reports of militia involvement and conflicting accounts of further casualties, including women protesters caught in the crossfire.

Extending heartfelt solidarity, CAN mourned the bereaved families, labeling the fatalities “one too many” in an era demanding collective resolve. The group demanded a “thorough investigation” to deliver justice and deter recurrence, echoing broader calls for accountability in the wake of the unrest.

Beyond restraint, CAN rallied civil society, philanthropists, and the public to rally behind the displaced and vulnerable—particularly women and children—through aid and advocacy.

“Unity and sustained peace efforts are our bulwark against such tragedies,” Rev. Manzo affirmed, closing on a note of fervent prayer: for solace to the grieving, swift healing for the wounded, and enduring harmony across Lamurde and Adamawa State.

As security forces intensify patrols in hotspots like Tingno, Tito, and Lamurde town, this CAN intervention arrives as a clarion call amid a crisis that risks broader instability.

With the governor’s recent visit to affected sites signaling high-level commitment, stakeholders now eye collaborative paths to transform enmity into enduring alliance.