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Youths of Boshikiri and Dumna Communities in Guyuk Local Government Area of Adamawa State have staged a protest against alleged destruction of about 100 farmlands by people suspected to be from neighbouring Waja tribal group.
The angry Lunguda men and women of Boshikira and Dumna communities stormed the affected farmlands wailing and demanding government’s action against the destruction of their farmlands which they said were almost set to be harvested.
It was gathered that trouble started last Saturday when young men and women suspected to be Waja, allegedly invaded farmlands belonging to Lunguda people with cutlasses and cut down guinea corn, maize as well as sprayed herbicides on soya beans, beans and other crops.
One of the protesters, Patience Wycliffe, said farming is the only means of livelihood of the communities, and “Anybody who cut down or spray herbicides on their farms does not want the people to live.”
The member representing Guyuk constituency at the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Hon Adwawa Donglock, paid an assessment visit to the damaged lands, wondering why some people would be bent on formenting trouble when the government has been trying hard to broker peace.
He said he had been part of ongoing peace talks between the two communities and the government will not allow the peace initiative to fail.
Conflicts between the Lunguda and Waja tribes date a long way back. In May this year, the state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri and his Gombe State counterpart, Muhammadu Inuwa convened a joint security meeting.
The Lunguda tribe has a huge presence in Gombe State and conflict involving the tribe often has an effect in both states. The peace meeting which took place in Numan, Adamawa State, produced a communique dubbed Numan Accord, which named a joint peace restoration committee tasked with ending the perennial conflict.
The joint security and peace seeking meeting in May came shortly after a clash between the Lunguda and Waja claimed 15 lives.
Daily Post
