Crossover Night Suspended in Adamawa as Fintiri, CAN Explain Reasons
The typically vibrant New Year festivities in Yola were replaced by a somber quietness as Crossover Night Suspended in Adamawa following severe security alerts. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) took the unprecedented step of cancelling all major Eve-of-the-Year activities on December 31, 2025, citing “credible intelligence” regarding a looming terror threat. The directive effectively shut down the state’s high-profile crossover concert at the Unity Flyover in Jimeta, an event that usually draws massive crowds and national celebrities, as well as traditional late-night church services across the state’s 21 local government areas.
The decision was triggered by a specific security advisory from the Department of State Services (DSS), which warned of a planned attempt by terrorists to unleash violence in Yola and other strategic parts of the state during the transition into 2026. Rev. Dr. Joel Danjuma Manzo, the CAN Chairman in Adamawa and President of the Gongola Baptist Conference, issued a directive to all Christian organizations to discontinue nighttime services. In a poignant address to the faithful, Manzo noted that it is “wiser to suspend a crossover service today and, by God’s grace, hold many peaceful ones in the years ahead,” emphasizing that the primary goal was to ensure every citizen crossed into the new year alive and safe.
Governor Fintiri, through his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, echoed this sentiment, stating that the safety of residents remains the administration’s highest priority. The cancellation of the state-sponsored concert at the Jimeta Flyover was a proactive move to prevent a high-concentration target for insurgents.
The government urged residents, particularly those in Yola North and Yola South, to remain vigilant, avoid large public gatherings, and cooperate with security agencies. This move mirrored similar security-induced cancellations in other parts of the country, including the Greater Lagos Fiesta, reflecting a nationwide heightened security posture as 2025 drew to a close.
As of the morning of January 1, 2026, Adamawa remains under intensified surveillance, with tactical police units and military patrols maintaining a visible presence in the capital. While the suspension of crossover traditions was a source of disappointment for many, the unified front presented by the state government and religious leaders has been lauded as a necessary sacrifice to avert potential tragedy. For the people of Adamawa, the dawn of 2026 was celebrated within the safety of their homes, marked by private prayers and a collective hope for a more secure and stable year ahead.
- Pastor Donnie McClurkin Breaks Silence, Flatly Denies Sexual Assault Lawsuit
- It’s Double Joy! Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twins
- Indigenous Oil Firm AA Rano Launches Nigeria’s First Automated Fuel Stations
- Zamfara APC E-Registration: What Aminu Jaji Said About Matawalle, Yari
- Nigerian opposition politics: ADC Is Way Forward 2027 Election, Atiku Declares