Court Sends 16 to Prison over Bachama, Chobo Crisis in Adamawa

The Chief Magistrate Court I sitting in Yola, Adamawa state has remanded 16 persons in prison custody in connection to clashes between Bachama and Chobo communities. News Platform 

The defendants include Naslan Falana, Doranzi Ishaya, Classon Misali, Bulus Misali, Tanamoro Joseph, Jethro Jonah, Silas Bitrus, Maxwell Yohanna, Jackson Williams and Enoch Ibrahim.

Other defendants remanded include Abba Danladi, Godwin Alagi, Ajayi Ephraim, Jaspher Solomon, Jasmine Irmiya and Musa Isreal.

They were arraigned before the court presided by M. A. Adamu, for the criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, unlawful possession of firearms and terrorism contrary sections 60, 80, 274, of the penal code of Adamawa state, 2018.

The defendants were apprehended on the 28th April, 2026 by the team of personnel of the Nigeria Army attached to 23rd Armoured Brigade while on their routine in some communities.

The personnel were deployed to Tigno Dutse, Dundili and Laka communities in Lamurde LGA in order to curtail security threats and communal clashes in the affected Bachama and Chobo communities and nabbed the defendants in the process. 

According to First Information Report tendered in court by Inspector Ahmed Abubakar, alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves, armed with dane gun, knives, charms and other dangerous weapons.

Inspector Ahmed informed the court that the defendants engaged themseves in an act of violence and terrorizing the community, which led to total breakdown of law and order. 

He alleged that they also confronted the troops, thereby exchanging fire with them, but they were later overpowered by the said troops, hence their arrest and arrangement.

Counsel to the defendants, A. S. Audu, applied for the bail application of the defendants on most liberal terms and relief on section 36 sun 5 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Responding, Inspector Ahmed rejected the application, saying that offences fall under the categories of capital offences and that the court lacks the jurisdiction to admit them to bail.

According to him, it is the case of public Interest which affects the warring communities, insisting that public Interest supercedes personal interest, and that their interest will not supercede will that of their communities.

He expressed fears that if granted bail, there is going to be exchange of hostilities from the feuding parties which will result into further chaos and break down of law and order.

He said that the court too has a duty to prevent any further breakdown of law and order and not the security agencies alone and urged the court to discountenance of the submission of the counsel to the defendants.

Ruling, Magistrate Adamu refused to admit them to bail and ordered their remand in prison custody.