The Adamawa State House of Assembly has adopted resolutions on the recent communal clashes which claimed lives and properties in communities in Lamurde Local Government Area, asking the executive arm of the government to create taskforces in Lamurde and neighbouring Numan LGA.
A communal clash had broken out in Lamurds on the 5th of July, resulting in the death of at least three people, burning of 53 houses, partial destruction of 170 other houses, and displacement of thousands of people, with some fleeing to Numan LGA.
The state government, which on July 11 imposed a 24-hour curfew as some acts of violence continued, relaxed the curfew on July 15 to become effective from 5pm to 6am. The curfew is still effective as of the time of this report.
The Adamawa State House of Assembly, during its deliberation on the matter, specifically urged the state Ministry of Special Duties, Security, and Humanitarian Services, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to establish community-based security taskforces at the epicentre of the violence in Lamurde and in neigbouring Numan LGA, which is now home to many of the displaced victims.
The lawmakers in their resolutions advised that the task force be comprised of trained members of the local vigilante, community peace corps, and traditional hunter groups.
In their turn, the legislators proposed to constitute a Joint Oversight Committee to develop a draft Community Security Reform bill to give legality and direction to the proposed task forces.
The assembly members urged Numan and Lamurde local government councils, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to convene an emergency stakeholders security forum involving traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, and representatives of affected communities to build consensus for peace.
The adoption of the resolutions, which included a call on the Police and Civil Defence Corps to beef up surveillance across Numan and Lamurde, was a product of a Matter of Urgent Public Importance brought before the assembly by the member representing Numan Constituency, Pwamwakeno Mackondo.
Briefing his colleagues earlier on the violent attacks on Rigange and Waduku communities in the Lamurde LGA, Mackondo said the attacks affected some parts of his constituency as some of the displaced persons fled to such communities in Numan LGA.
He added that the existence of conventional security agencies notwithstanding, the vastness of the affected terrains and logistical limitations of the conventional security forces left several communities unprotected.
According to Mackondo, non-existence of a structured, community-driven security architecture in the areas in view significantly contributed to recurring violence.
“In recent days, communities within the Numan Federation have experienced heightened insecurity, including violent attacks on villages such as Rigange and Waduku,” he recalled.
He said the incidents left communities in a state of fear and affected rural economic activities.
Following a full debate by the house, the Assembly adopted the resolutions, and the Speaker, Bathiya Wesley, directed the Assembly clerk to communicate the resolutions to the relevant authorities.
