News Rendezvous

The Senator representing Adamawa South Senatorial District, Binos Dauda Yaroe, has commiserated with victims of the recent communal clash between the Bachama and Tsobo communities in Lamurde Local Government Area, Adamawa State, calling on the warring sides to embrace peace, unity and dialogue.During a visit to the affected communities on Thursday, Senator Yaroe appealed to residents to sheathe their swords and allow calm to prevail, stressing that sustainable peace can only be achieved through reconciliation and constructive engagement.

The senator described the visit as a personal sacrifice aimed at calming frayed nerves, assessing the level of destruction caused by the crisis, and obtaining first-hand information that would enable him to present a comprehensive report to the Senate.He revealed that the visit was particularly significant, as he is still recuperating from a major health challenge that required surgery towards the end of last year. Despite this, he said he felt a moral obligation to stand with his constituents in their moment of pain and distress.Throughout the day, Senator Yaroe toured several affected communities, including Gamadio, Rigange and Bashakka villages across Numan and Lamurde Local Government Areas.

At each location, he sympathised with victims, encouraged peaceful coexistence and unity, and distributed relief materials to alleviate their suffering.The items donated included 400 bags of 25kg rice, 80 gallons of cooking oil, 200 cartons of spaghetti, 200 brocade materials, 200 yards of fabric, assorted children’s clothing and cash support. According to the senator, the intervention was intended to provide temporary relief while efforts are made toward long-term solutions.Speaking on the importance of peace, Senator Yaroe stressed that no society can develop or reach its full potential in the absence of peace and stability. He noted that communal disputes are best resolved through dialogue, mediation and mutual understanding, rather than violence, which only deepens divisions and causes lasting damage.He further recalled that the Bachama and Tsobo communities have, for decades, lived together as brothers, bound by intermarriage, trade and social interactions.

He warned that these long-standing ties should not be allowed to collapse due to misunderstandings or emerging socio-economic challenges.The senator also disclosed that at the height of the crisis, his health condition limited his ability to personally raise the issue on the floor of the Senate. He said attempts to table the matter through his colleague, the senator representing Adamawa North, Senator Amos Yohanna, were unsuccessful.Expressing disappointment, Senator Yaroe stated that he would formally protest the Senate’s action for denying him the opportunity to present a critical issue affecting his constituency when the Senate resumes.Stakeholders across the affected communities commended the senator for his visit and support.

Traditional rulers, community leaders and leaders of internally displaced persons (IDPs) praised him for identifying with the victims despite his health challenges.At the Gamadio IDP camp, the camp leader, Barris David, described the visit as a morale booster for displaced persons, thanking the senator for his compassion and concern. He prayed for the senator’s good health and longevity, while lamenting that residents of Waduku village lost virtually everything during the attack. He appealed to the senator to facilitate the rebuilding of the community.Similarly, in Rigange, the District Head, Mr. Kpana Linus Ishaya, represented by his secretary, Mr. Chikauno Audu, expressed gratitude to the senator and offered prayers for his full recovery, noting that his leadership was critical at this time.At Bashakka village, community leaders also lauded Senator Yaroe’s empathy, foresight and commitment to his constituents, assuring him of their readiness to formally present their concerns through an official memo while praying for his continued good health.