Many people have been reported killed and several others injured in a communal clash between two communities of Lafiya and Boshikiri in Lamurde and Guyuk Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.
Sources told Channels Television on Wednesday that the crisis erupted after three vigilante men who responded to a distress call from a farmer were murdered by unidentified persons in a bush, resulting in a reprisal.
The crisis was said to have taken a new dimension when both Muslim and Christian places of worship were razed.
Witnesses claimed to have heard sounds of gunshots as people scampered for safety in the communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abubakar Othman confirmed the incident.
He, however, said the police have not got the report of anyone killed while those injured have been taken to hospital.
Mr Othman added that houses were burnt while four persons were missing.
“It was quite an unfortunate situation,” he said. “These two local governments have been living peacefully for quite some time; that is Lamurde Local Government and Guyuk in Adamawa State.”
The command’s spokesperson explained, “Unfortunately, two young men left for their farms on this fateful day and they never returned. A day after, one of them was discovered dead and the other one critically injured.”
He stressed that the injured victim was found on the other side of the community which is under Guyuk, noting that his people believed that they were attacked by people of the other community, which led to the reprisal.
Othman said normalcy has since returned to the communities after the Commissioner of Police deployed personnel to bring the situation under control.
He appealed to the warring parties to sheathe their swords and live in harmony with one another.
He said the police have been meeting with relevant stakeholders, especially the traditional rulers to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. Channels Television