Fresh violence has erupted in Adamawa State’s southern border communities, as unidentified assailants set ablaze two thatched dwellings in Lafiya (Lamurde LGA) and Boshikiri (Guyuk LGA) on Wednesday.
The victims – Mrs Ododumga Kenneth and Mr Nura Haruna – saw their properties consumed by flames in attacks swiftly condemned by the Adamawa State Police Command as “mischief by fire”.
The incidents form part of a grim annual pattern of violence during the farming season, when intenerant killer herdsmen (who are mostly foreigners) invade indigenous communities and dispossess farmers of their lands.
This cyclical bloodletting belies the region’s centuries‑old tradition of inter‑ethnic coexistence.
According to the Global Terrorism Index, herder terrorism accounted for over 800 deaths nationwide by 2015, with Adamawa among the worst‑hit states.
Despite intermittent peace accords, the lack of lasting mediation has rendered these communities vulnerable to recurring atrocity.
Commissioner of Police Dankombo Morris has ordered a discreet probe and immediate reinforcement of police patrols, warning that “anyone found instigating violence or engaging in criminal acts will be decisively dealt with in accordance with the law”.
While this show of force may deter opportunistic hoodlums, critics argue that reliance on reactive security measures alone fails to address the open grazing root causes, leaving the indigenous farming population at risk.
To break this vicious cycle, the Adamawa government must reinforce timely law enforcement with community‑driven surveillance, land‑registry reform and targeted livelihood support.
Without structural intervention – including robust mediation mechanisms and equitable land‑use policies – weekly threats to life and property will continue to stalk farming villages, jeopardising both food security and social cohesion in this fragile Nigerian frontier.
