Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has warned Fulani herders against taking the law into their own hands following a misunderstanding with the management of Song Local Government Council that led to a boycott of Song Market.
The governor issued the warning after intervening in the dispute and brokering a peace agreement between the herders’ community and the local government council in a meeting held at the Government House in Yola on Sunday.
Fintiri said his administration would not tolerate any unlawful conduct capable of triggering a crisis or threatening the safety of residents, stressing that protecting human life and maintaining peace must remain a priority for all parties.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, the intervention followed tensions between the Fulani herders and the council’s chairman, Alhaji Idris Yahaya, which resulted in the herders’ decision to boycott the market.
The governor warned that disagreements must not be allowed to escalate into violence, urging the parties to respect the law and pursue peaceful means of resolving their differences.
“Anyone who takes a human life will be dealt with without mercy. Government will not fold its arms and watch lawlessness,” Fintiri said.
The warning comes amid concerns about the consequences of unresolved community disputes, particularly when they disrupt commercial activities and threaten relationships between groups whose livelihoods depend on cooperation.
Song Market serves as an important trading point for people in the area. A prolonged boycott could affect traders, buyers and other residents who depend on regular market activities for their income and access to goods.
Fintiri appealed to both parties to put aside their differences and prioritise the collective interests of Song Local Government Area. He also pledged to personally monitor developments to ensure that the peace agreement was sustained.
The governor emphasised that peaceful coexistence was essential to economic growth and community development, urging the herders to return to the market and resume normal interactions with other residents.
“Return home and give peace a chance. Song belongs to all of you. You must live together, trade together and grow your economy together,” he said.
The meeting brought together the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Awwal Tukur, senior government officials from Song, members of the Adamawa State Peace Commission and traditional leaders from the local government area.
Their participation reflected the role of government institutions, traditional authorities and community representatives in resolving disputes and preventing tensions from escalating.
According to the statement, both parties agreed at the end of the meeting to embrace peace and return to normal activities in the interest of Song Local Government Area.
Although the agreement represents a step towards resolving the immediate dispute, its long-term success will depend on the willingness of both sides to honour their commitments and address future disagreements through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Fintiri’s intervention also underscores the importance of protecting lives, preserving local commerce and maintaining peaceful relationships among communities in Adamawa State.
For residents of Song, a return to normal market activities would offer an opportunity to restore confidence and prevent the dispute from causing further disruption to livelihoods.
The governor reiterated that his administration would not stand by while individuals engage in lawlessness, making clear that disagreements must be resolved within the law.
The immediate priority is now to sustain the agreement, restore normal trading activities and ensure that the dispute does not develop into a wider crisis.
