At least seven women were killed and several others wounded on Monday after soldiers escorting a senior military commander allegedly opened fire on a group of protesters in Adamawa State. The women had gathered to protest what they described as a delayed and ineffective security response to a deadly militia attack on their communities earlier in the day.
The Sequence of a Tragic Day
The incident occurred in the Lamurde Local Government Area, an agrarian region plagued by communal violence and periodic militia raids.
1. The Initial Attack: The day's events began with a coordinated morning assault by suspected Chobo-speaking militia on several communities within Lamurde LGA. As is often the case in these clashes, the attackers left before security forces arrived, leaving residents traumatized and accusing the military of an unforgivably slow response.
2. The Protest: Frustrated and grieving, a group of women gathered at Rigange Junction to protest the perceived security failure. Their demonstration was intended to demand accountability and a more robust military presence to prevent future attacks.
3. The Deadly Confrontation: The protest turned fatal when a convoy carrying the Brigade Commander of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Brigadier-General Amechi Agwu, encountered the demonstrators. According to multiple community sources, soldiers from the escort detail opened fire on the unarmed crowd. Local reports state that twelve women were shot, with seven killed instantly. Five critically injured survivors were rushed to Numan General Hospital for emergency treatment.
Official Silence and Community Trauma
The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Efforts by journalists to reach the Army spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful. This silence has further inflamed tensions in a region where trust between civilians and state security forces is already severely strained.
A local resident, speaking to reporters, captured the community's despair: "The women were angry, frustrated, and tired of burying their own... they wanted answers. Instead, they got bullets."
The Broader Context of Civil-Military Relations
This tragedy is not an isolated event but fits into a troubling national pattern observed in conflict zones across Nigeria. Security analysts note a persistent "trust deficit" between the civilian population and the military. Incidents where citizens protesting insecurity are met with lethal force from state agents deeply erode the legitimacy of security institutions and complicate efforts to build cooperative, intelligence-driven relationships with local communities.
The Lamurde shooting underscores the urgent need for transparent investigations into allegations of military excesses, clearer rules of engagement for troops in volatile situations, and more effective, timely responses to communal violence to prevent such escalations.
Calls for Accountability
Human rights organizations and community leaders are demanding an immediate, impartial investigation into the shootings. They are calling for those responsible to be held accountable to prevent impunity and to begin rebuilding the shattered trust essential for lasting peace in the region.
*Source: This report is based on initial accounts from community sources and local reporting from the Lamurde area, as compiled by SaharaReporters and other Nigerian news outlets.*
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