Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The 23 Brigade, Nigerian Army has firmly rejected recent allegations that its soldiers opened fire on women protesters in Lamurde Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State — calling the media reports “baseless” and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the unit and its leadership. The rebuttal follows a widely circulated article by Sahara Reporters and other outlets claiming that troops escorting the Brigade Commander killed at least seven women at Rigange junction during a protest on 8 December 2025.
In its response, the Brigade clarified that the commander was not present on the ground but participated virtually in a high-level operational briefing when the alleged shooting occurred. The statement said that combined security forces — including units from the Army, the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Department of State Services (DSS) — mobilised in the early hours of Monday after reports of communal violence between the Bachama and Chobo communities in several villages, including Tingno, Waduku, Tito, Rigange and Lamurde town. According to the Army, the deployment was prompted by information about coordinated attacks by armed militia on Bachama-majority communities.
The Army’s account states that during the response operation, troops came under attack from the suspected Chobo militia. In the ensuing firefight, they claim three attackers were neutralised while others fled. A subsequent search along the militia’s reported escape route allegedly yielded five additional dead militants and a motorcycle. The security forces then moved to secure the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat after receiving intelligence that militias planned to mount another attack there. Women initially blocked access, but the Army said no shots were fired until the crowd dispersed and the area was secured. It claims that two female corpses later brought to the Local Government Lodge were not victims of military fire, but casualties resulting from mishandling of automatic weapons by the militia themselves. The statement concluded with condolences to victims’ families and a call for the communities to embrace peace.
In contrast, civilian sources and the media maintain that soldiers opened fire on unarmed women who had gathered to protest what they described as the security forces’ delayed arrival after earlier attacks on their villages. According to Sahara Reporters, protesters claimed the women — numbering about a dozen — were shot at Rigange junction, with at least seven killed instantly and several others wounded. Some were reportedly rushed to Numan General Hospital for treatment. Locals say the women were peacefully demanding protection and accountability when the shooting occurred.
Independent news coverage confirms that the violence in Lamurde quickly accessed a broader crisis: the State government imposed a 24-hour curfew across the LGA; the Adamawa State Police Command deployed mobile police units alongside other security agencies; and communities remain on edge as troops and policing units intensify presence in the area.
The conflicting narratives underscore the urgent need for an impartial, transparent investigation. Without a credible inquiry — one that includes forensic examination of the death scene, ballistics analysis, and unbiased witness interviews — conflicting accusations and denials may continue to fuel inter-communal mistrust and undermine public confidence in security agencies.
As tensions remain high in Lamurde, residents are caught between longstanding ethnic grievances, cycles of militia violence, and now allegations of deadly force by state actors. The coming days will be crucial: how authorities handle the aftermath of these events — and whether they commit to accountability — could determine if peace takes hold or chaos resurges.
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