At least seven women have been shot dead after soldiers escorting the Brigade Commander of the 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola, reportedly opened fire on protesters in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Rigange Junction, weeks after growing tension in the area over persistent attacks by suspected Chobo-speaking militia groups.
Sources told Reporters that the soldiers were escorting the Brigade Commander, Amechi Agwu, when the shooting happened.
A community leader said 12 women were hit by gunfire during the protest, with seven dying on the spot. Five others, he added, sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Numan General Hospital.
According to eyewitnesses, the women had gathered to protest what they described as the delayed response of security agencies to a violent assault earlier in the day.
The attackers had reportedly invaded several communities in Lamurde, carried out coordinated attacks, and withdrawn before security forces arrived.
The women were protesting peacefully. They were angry and frustrated that help came too late, a resident said. They wanted answers, but instead shots were fired.
Reporters’ attempts to obtain comments from the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful.
Calls placed to the Army’s spokesperson, Lt. Col. Apollonia Anele, were not answered, and a text message seeking clarification had not been returned as of the time of filing this report.
The Nigerian Army has also not issued an official statement on the alleged shooting.
As of press time, tension remains high in Lamurde, with residents calling for an independent investigation into the incident and accountability for the loss of lives.
