The Nigerian Army has strongly denied allegations that soldiers attached to the Commander of the 23 Brigade, Yola, shot and killed women protesters during a violent communal clash in Adamawa State on Monday. In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, December 8, the Army described the reports as “baseless, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to smear the image of the Brigade, its Commander, and the Nigerian Army as a whole.”
The statement, signed by Captain Olusegun Abidoye, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, insisted that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were present at the scene where the alleged shooting took place. According to the Army spokesperson, the claim that the commander personally supervised or condoned such violence was entirely false.
“The Brigade Commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational briefing at the time of the purported shooting incident,” Captain Abidoye clarified, stressing that the Commander had no physical involvement in the unfolding crisis.
The Army explained that the deployment of troops from the 23 Brigade Garrison was a coordinated response to reports of renewed violence between the Bachama and Chobo ethnic groups in Lamurde Local Government Area. Personnel from the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) accompanied the troops in a joint operation aimed at restoring order.
According to the Army, the latest round of violence stemmed from lingering land disputes and long-standing ethnic animosity between the two communities. The tension escalated into deadly clashes early Monday morning, prompting an urgent security response to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Captain Abidoye said troops moved swiftly into the affected communities, including Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde. However, upon arrival, they came under heavy fire from a militia group reportedly loyal to one of the warring factions.
“The troops, being a professional, adaptable, and combat-ready force, decisively engaged the militia armed men in a firefight,” the Army spokesman noted. During the exchange, three gunmen were neutralised, while others fled through nearby bushes. Troops later discovered five more dead militia members along the militants’ withdrawal route, alongside a motorcycle allegedly used by the attackers.
As troops attempted to secure the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat, which had become a strategic point for ensuring law and order, a group of women took to the streets in protest, blocking access. The women were reportedly expressing anger over the escalating violence and demanding justice for victims in their communities.
Abidoye explained that while the women were protesting, armed men from the Bachama side continued firing sporadically nearby. Despite the mounting tension, troops avoided confrontation with the protesters and managed to create a passage to continue their movement to the local government secretariat.
“At this point, no woman was shot or injured. Otherwise, troops would not have been allowed to find any passage through the crowd,” the Army emphasized, disputing reports that soldiers opened fire on unarmed women.
However, the situation took another turn when two corpses of women were later brought to the Local Government Lodge by community members, who accused the military of killing them. The Army rejected the allegation, stating that preliminary investigations revealed that the deaths were likely caused by the reckless handling of automatic weapons by local militias, who are neither trained nor disciplined in the use of such firearms.
“Preliminary findings show that the unfortunate deaths resulted from the unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by local militias who are not trained to use such weapons,” Abidoye stated in the release.
The 23 Brigade expressed sympathy for the bereaved families and called on both Bachama and Chobo communities to cease hostilities. The Army urged the communities to avoid further bloodshed and destruction of property by embracing peaceful coexistence and cooperating with security personnel deployed to maintain order.
“The Brigade deeply sympathises with the families of the slain women and urges both communities to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and destruction of property,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Adamawa State, the Army stressed that its actions were guided by professionalism, adherence to the rules of engagement, and the constitutional responsibility to support civil authorities. Captain Abidoye noted that the troops under the 23 Brigade remain focused on restoring calm and ensuring that the crisis does not escalate beyond control.
The Army also urged members of the public to disregard what it described as malicious reports being circulated on social media platforms, warning that such misinformation threatens ongoing peace efforts and undermines public trust in security institutions.
The statement concluded with a firm reminder that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property, even in the face of deliberate attempts to discredit its operations. As investigations into the Adamawa clashes continue, security agencies have vowed to identify and apprehend those responsible for the violence, including members of the militia groups fueling the unrest.
The Adamawa crisis is one of several communal conflicts in Nigeria’s North-East region, where ethnic tensions, land disputes, and resource competition frequently trigger violent confrontations. The Army’s latest intervention highlights the volatile nature of these disputes and the delicate balance required to enforce peace without escalating community grievances.
For now, security operations continue across Lamurde and surrounding areas, with joint task force patrols deployed to prevent retaliatory attacks and maintain stability. The Army reiterated its commitment to justice, accountability, and peace-building, promising that the true circumstances surrounding the women’s deaths will be fully uncovered through ongoing investigations.
