The Headquarters of the 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has firmly dismissed a circulating report alleging that soldiers attached to the Brigade Commander opened fire on women protesters during a communal clash in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The military described the report—initially published by Sahara Reporters and amplified by other online platforms—as false, misleading, and an attempt to malign the image of the Brigade and the Nigerian Army at large.
In a statement signed by Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai / 23 Brigade, the Army clarified that the allegation lacked any factual basis.
Claims of Shooting Are Completely False – Army
According to the statement, the Brigade Commander was not even present at the scene of the incident, as he was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational briefing at the time of the reported shooting.
The Army emphasized that neither the Commander nor his escorts were involved in any shooting, describing the allegation as a deliberate fabrication intended to mislead the public.
Real Cause of the Crisis: A Long-Standing Land and Ethnic Dispute
The Army explained that the unrest stemmed from a renewed clash between the Bachama and Chobo communities, who have a long-standing land dispute and ethnic tensions.
Security agencies—including the Nigerian Army, Police, NSCDC, and DSS—received a distress alert around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025, and quickly deployed personnel to the affected communities of Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde.
Troops Repelled Armed Militia, Neutralized Eight Attackers
When troops arrived, they were ambushed by a militia group suspected to be aligned with one of the warring communities.
The Army stated that soldiers, acting professionally, engaged the gunmen in a firefight, neutralizing three assailants on the spot.
During further clearance operations along the militia’s withdrawal route, troops discovered five additional corpses of armed men alongside a motorcycle.
The joint security team eventually restored calm and prevented escalation of violence.
Women Protesters Blocked Road, But No One Was Shot – Army
The Army acknowledged that some women blocked the road in an attempt to prevent troops from passing to secure the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat.
However, the statement clarified that no single shot was fired at the women, nor was anyone injured by troops.
The Army explained that if soldiers had opened fire—as alleged—there would have been no way for them to pass through the crowd peacefully, which they eventually did before securing the Secretariat from further attacks.
Deaths of Two Women Caused by Local Militias, Not Soldiers
While the troops were stationed at the Local Government Lodge, members of the community brought the bodies of two deceased women, claiming they were killed by soldiers.
The Army firmly rejected the accusation, attributing the deaths to untrained militia fighters who mishandled automatic weapons during the chaos.
Brigade Sympathizes with Families, Calls for Peace
Despite clarifying that soldiers were not responsible for the deaths, the 23 Brigade expressed deep sympathy to the families of the slain women and urged the warring communities to embrace peace and avoid further unnecessary bloodshed.
Army Urges Public to Ignore the False Report
The Brigade reiterated its commitment to professionalism, rule of engagement, and the protection of civilians in all operations within its Area of Responsibility.
The public was urged to disregard the “malicious and unfounded” report and rely on verified information from credible channels.