January 11, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | News
A Bachama militia group in Adamawa State has accused the Nigerian military and influential political elites of colluding with an armed Tchobo militia to violently displace the Bachama people from their ancestral land, allegedly to enable the exploitation of mineral-rich territories in the area.
In an appeal to the Federal Government, Bachama leaders said the prolonged communal crisis has moved beyond ethnic rivalry and now reflects what they described as a deliberate, economically driven campaign, allegedly shielded by elite interests and compromised security forces.
According to the group, the violence escalated on July 7, 2025, when armed Tchobo militia allegedly launched unprovoked attacks on Bachama villages, killing several residents. The Bachama community insisted it did not retaliate, stressing that it has historically adopted a defensive posture in the conflict.
Security forces were subsequently deployed, a move the community initially welcomed. However, Bachama leaders now claim the deployment quickly turned into what they described as an “occupation favouring the aggressors.”
In a viral video circulating online, the Bachama militia alleged that the Tchobo group struck again on December 8, 2025. According to them, as Bachama youths attempted to defend their communities, soldiers allegedly intervened in a manner that led to the killing of unarmed Bachama women who had gathered to pray for the safe return of their men.
The group said that more than a month after the incident, no credible investigation has been concluded.
They further accused security agencies of selective justice, alleging that two Bachama youths were arrested in their homes while asleep, branded as terrorists, and accused of illegal possession of firearms. The suspects are currently remanded in prison awaiting trial.
Confirming the arrests, the Adamawa State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje, said two men have been charged to court in connection with the communal conflict.
However, Bachama leaders claim that a Tchobo youth leader, who allegedly issued public threats and called for the deposition of the Hama Bachama, the paramount ruler of the Bachama people, remains untouched and moves freely.
“This is not accidental,” a Bachama leader said. “The troops deployed here are compromised. They have taken sides and are protecting a tribal militia because powerful political actors want access to the mineral resources on our land.”
The group questioned the deployment of soldiers instead of mobile police units, which are typically used in communal disputes, alleging that the military presence has emboldened armed militia members who now move openly with weapons without challenge.
According to the Bachama militia, residents are effectively trapped in their homes, unable to access farmlands or sustain their livelihoods, while armed groups allegedly roam freely under military watch.
They claim the ultimate aim is to intimidate and weaken the Bachama people into abandoning their ancestral land, believed to contain valuable, untapped mineral deposits.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to withdraw these troops and end this injustice,” the group said, warning that peace cannot be achieved where security forces are perceived as partners in exploitation.
The Bachama leaders also urged the Adamawa State Government to immediately release their detained kinsmen within 48 hours, cautioning that continued detention amid rising grievances could further escalate tensions in the region.
— SUNTV Global Channel
