Organisers allege political interference; police inaction questioned; LG chairman unreachable.
By Pioneer Newspaper
GANYE, ADAMAWA STATE. An inauguration meant to mark a milestone for a community group turned into a scene of violence on Sunday, October 11, 2026, as alleged thugs blocked the venue, attacked journalists and forced the swearing-in of the Ganye Concerned Citizens Association’s caretaker executive out of its venue.
The Pioneer Newspaper team, led by its Publisher and CEO with three reporters, arrived at the venue on invitation and witnessed the unfolding events.
Instead of a gathering of stakeholders, they found a group of agitated men who allegedly barred members and guests from entering.
Tension escalated when reporters from Ganye 24, a local media outfit, began documenting the scene. The group allegedly turned on them, destroying their tripod and mobile phones. A female member of the team was reportedly beaten.
Pressed on their actions, some of the men allegedly claimed the Executive Chairman of Ganye Local Government Area had paid them to disrupt the event. The claim has not been independently verified, and Pioneer Newspaper has no evidence that any such instruction or payment was made.
Police were alerted and arrived, forcing the first group to leave. The programme resumed.
The calm did not last. Just as preparations began for the swearing-in, the men reportedly returned, again claiming to act on the chairman’s instructions and insisting the event must end. Panic followed, and participants fled the venue.
Eyewitnesses say police officers and their Hilux patrol vehicle were present, yet the men continued unchecked. The Publisher said he personally confronted the officers over their inaction and they declined to respond. No official explanation has been obtained.
Undeterred, the association relocated to its secretary’s residence, where the swearing-in was completed.
At a press conference afterwards, chairman Hon. Basari Columba thanked supporters and stressed that the association is non-tribal, non-political and non-religious, and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He said it has spent two years identifying community needs and pressing leaders to prioritise people’s welfare. He also commended former Executive Chairman Hon. Farouk Mohammed Ganye, popularly called “Buldozer,” for giving the association a listening ear.
Secretary Comrade Ezekiel Ambe said the group would not be cowed by “external forces” seeking to frustrate its work, and that threats would not stop its mission. He urged members and the public to stay calm and not take the law into their own hands.
The attack on journalists and destruction of equipment raise serious concerns about press freedom in Ganye. The assault on a female reporter deserves urgent attention from the authorities. Disagreement with a group’s activities calls for lawful engagement, not violence or destruction of property.
Pioneer Newspaper’s efforts to reach the Executive Chairman by phone failed. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was reportedly out of town but took the call. After being briefed, he promised to contact the officers at the scene, but by then the disruption had run its course.
Questions demanding answers
Who were the attackers, and who, if anyone, directed them?
Why did the second disruption happen with police present?
What will be done about the stolen peace, the destroyed equipment and the assaulted journalist?
These answers should come from an impartial, evidence-based investigation, not speculation. The chairman must be given the chance to respond, and the police should explain their conduct.
Ganye cannot develop where citizens fear to assemble and journalists fear to report. The incident must not degenerate into tribal or political hostility, nor be swept aside without inquiry.
