Pene Da Bwatiye condemns Chobo–Bachama clashes, calls for reconciliation
The Pene Da Bwatiye Development Association Worldwide has expressed deep sorrow over the recent violent clashes between the Chobo and some Bwatiye communities in the Bachama Kingdom, describing the crisis as a tragic betrayal of centuries-old kinship and mutual trust.
In a strongly worded press statement issued over the weekend, the association decried the violence that erupted in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, resulting in the loss of lives, injuries, widespread arson, and destruction of property.
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The group condemned the breakdown of relations between the historically close-knit communities and called for urgent steps toward justice and peace.
“For generations beyond count, the Chobbo and Bwatiye of the Bachama Kingdom have lived as brothers and sisters, bound by unbreakable ties of kinship, shared history, and deep-rooted inter-community marriages,.
“The recent crisis has inflicted wounds of monumental proportions, lives lost, homes destroyed, and communities displaced,” the statement said.
The group praised Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his prompt intervention through the imposition of a 24-hour curfew, describing it as a vital step that helped contain the escalation of violence.
However, it emphasized that the road to lasting peace would require more robust and comprehensive efforts.
Specifically, the association called on the Adamawa State Government to immediately establish a high-powered and impartial commission of inquiry to uncover the root and proximate causes of the conflict.
It urged that those responsible for inciting violence, killings, arson, and looting be identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice.
In addition, Pene Da Bwatiye urged for a sustained security presence in affected communities and the initiation of an inclusive peace and reconciliation process involving elders, traditional institutions, and relevant stakeholders.
“This bloodshed against our own kin violates our deepest ancestral bonds. We implore all members of the Chobbo and Bwatiye of the Bachama Kingdom to reject the path of destruction and actively work toward healing and rebuilding our shared future,” the statement added.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to support all efforts geared toward justice, reconciliation, and the restoration of peaceful coexistence.
