Many displaced in Adamawa community attack

Many persons were displaced in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, after suspected armed members of the Bali ethnic group raided Fulani communities.

The Mayo-Belwa Council chairman, Bako Muhammad, said more than 100 houses were razed in the area on Friday, causing displacement of persons, including women and children. He said one person died.

Disagreement over cattle rustling and encroachment on farmlands degenerated in the bloody clashes between Fulani settlers and locals, including Bachama, Mbula, Yandan and Bali in the southern part of Adamawa, it was gathered.

“Bali people from Demsa Local Government area attacked four Fulani settlements on Friday in the afternoon when men had gone out for their daily businesses.

“We have opened primary schools to accommodate displaced people from both communities. We provided some food while the state government sent food items provided by the Presidential Committee on North-East”, he said.

A local businessman, Ibrahim Bakari, said he believed that dozens were killed in the incident.

He said the crisis started when a group of migrant herdsmen clashed with Bali people in Demsa area and the Balis attacked the local Fulani communities in revenge.

“Many people were killed by the attackers. Five of the people looking after my cows were killed in the attacks.

“The Bali people started the attacks in Mayo-Lope and kept expanding their targets to this area which is 100 kilometers away. The security should take note”, he said

The chairperson of Demsa Area, Wale Fwa did not pick the call from our corres