Army, Community Trade Blame Over Adamawa Protest Killings
Tension has escalated in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State as the Nigerian Army’s 23 Brigade and residents of the Bachama community dispute responsibility for the killing of women protesters during ongoing communal clashes.
Locals insist soldiers opened fire on the women, who were demonstrating over what they described as the military’s slow response to their distress call during an attack by the rival Chobo community. According to them, the protesters blocked the road to prevent troops from chasing fleeing attackers, leading to a confrontation in which 10 women were allegedly shot dead and several others injured.
However, the Nigerian Army denied the allegations, stating that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were present at the scene when the incident occurred. In a statement issued by 23 Brigade spokesperson Captain Olusegun Abidoye, the Army described the reports as false, misleading, and aimed at tarnishing its image.
The military said its joint team—comprising soldiers, police, NSCDC personnel, and DSS officers—responded to the communal clash triggered by longstanding land disputes between the Bachama and Chobo communities. Troops reportedly came under attack from armed militia suspected to be aligned with the Chobo group, leading to a firefight in which three gunmen were killed, with five more later found dead along their escape route.
According to the Army, while troops were later heading to secure the Lamurde council secretariat following another distress call, a group of women blocked the road. At the same time, gunfire erupted from suspected Bachama militias. The Army said it created a passage without harming any of the women and proceeded to secure the secretariat.
The statement added that two women’s bodies were later brought to the council lodge by locals, who accused soldiers of killing them—an allegation the Army rejected, blaming the deaths on poorly trained local militias mishandling automatic weapons.
The Brigade expressed sympathy to the affected families and urged both communities to embrace peace to prevent further bloodshed and destruction.
#UTVAfrica#
