Lamurde Crisis: Nigerian Army Debunks Allegations of Shooting Women Protesters — Calls Report ‘Absolutely False’”

The Nigerian Army has strongly refuted reports claiming that soldiers attached to the 23 Brigade in Yola opened fire on women protesters during the recent communal unrest in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The allegation, first published by Sahara Reporters and amplified by other online platforms, was described by the Army as “baseless, misleading, and aimed at smearing the image of the Brigade and its Commander.”

In an official statement signed by Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, the Army dismissed the claims as “bereft of truth” and clarified that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were present at the location where the alleged shooting took place. According to the report, the Brigade Commander was attending the Chief of Army Staff’s virtual operational briefing at the time.

Communal Clash Triggered by Long-standing Land Dispute

Security operatives, including troops from the 23 Brigade Garrison, officers of the Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC and DSS, were reportedly alerted to fresh hostilities between the Bachama and Chobo communities around 1:30 AM on Monday, December 8, 2025.
The renewed violence, rooted in unresolved land disputes and ethnic tensions, spread across Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku and Lamurde.

Upon arrival, troops were attacked by an armed militia suspected to be aligned with one of the factions. The Army said its men responded professionally, neutralizing three attackers during an exchange of fire and pushing back others who fled the area. A later sweep of the militia’s escape route uncovered five additional casualties and a motorcycle believed to belong to the armed group.

Army: No Woman Shot, Militia Fire to Blame

In response to widely circulated reports that soldiers shot women during the chaos, the Army explained that tensions escalated when troops moved to secure the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat after receiving intelligence about an impending attack.

Some women reportedly blocked the road, slowing the troops’ movement, while armed men allegedly linked to the Bachama community fired shots within the neighborhood. Soldiers, the statement said, “created a passage and proceeded without firing at civilians.”

The Army insisted that no shot from its personnel hit any woman, emphasizing that if troops were indeed shooting, the crowd would not have allowed them passage.

Later, two corpses of women were brought to the Local Government Lodge, with community members alleging Army involvement. However, the Army stated that the deaths were caused by “unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by local militias,” not by military fire.

Brigade Calls for Calm, Condoles Families

While dismissing the allegations, the 23 Brigade expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased women and urged both communities to embrace peace to avoid further bloodshed and destruction.

The Army also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians, maintaining stability, and supporting civil authorities within its area of responsibility.

“We call on the public to disregard the malicious report and continue to support efforts toward restoring peace in Lamurde,” the statement concluded