'Declaration of War': Maya Youths Accuse Bille Invaders of Attacking Adamawa Communities.

YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE – A fragile peace in Adamawa State is under threat following a grave alarm raised by the Maya Youths' Progressive Association (MAYOPA). The group has accused armed youths from the Bille community of a "criminal invasion" of several Maya villages in the Demsa Local Government Area, describing the unprovoked attack as a "declaration of war."

In a statement to journalists on Wednesday, MAYOPA leaders, Mr. Gagdiwana Joel and Mr. Gideon Levi, alleged that the Bille youths, led by their president, Wilfred Jonathan, stormed several communities on August 4. The invaders were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons and were performing rituals to demarcate new boundaries in the newly created Tagombali District.

History of Conflict and Accusations of Complicity

According to MAYOPA, the attack was a forceful attempt to implement a disputed 1992 government gazette that would transfer some Maya villages to the Bille District. This long-standing boundary dispute has been the source of repeated clashes, including a bloody confrontation in 2006.

The group also accused security agencies of complicity and negligence, stating that they failed to arrest or prosecute the perpetrators despite the attack. The Maya youths warned that if the government and security agencies continue to ignore such acts, it could lead to "looming anarchy."

MAYOPA vowed that the Maya people would no longer remain passive in the face of repeated provocations. "While we remain law-abiding citizens, we will not concede an inch of our land," the statement read, adding a stern warning that the youths "shall match violence with violence."

Demands for Justice and Action

To avert a descent into bloodshed, the Maya youths issued a list of demands:

A thorough investigation into the August 4th invasion.

The immediate arrest of Bille Youths' President Wilfred Jonathan and his co-conspirators.

The state government to expedite action on the pending Bill to create new districts and resolve existing discrepancies.

The group concluded its statement by urging the government and security agencies to act decisively and impartially, declaring that the "safety, dignity, and territorial integrity of the Maya people are non-negotiable.