Nigerian Army Reacts To Reports That Soldiers Escorting Brigade Commander K!lled Protesting Women

The Nigerian Army’s 23 Brigade has denied allegations that its troops shot civilians during a communal clash in Lamurde Local Government Area, Adamawa State, on Monday, December 8, 2025.

In a statement posted on its official 𝕏 handle on Tuesday, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, described the reports as “baseless and misleading.”

According to the statement, contrary to social media claims, the Brigade Commander and his escorts were not present during the incident.

The Army explained that its personnel, alongside operatives from the Nigerian Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), were deployed to quell violence between the Bachama and Chobo communities. The clashes were said to stem from unresolved land disputes and ethnic hostilities.

The statement reads, “It is necessary to inform the general public that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts was at the scene of the communal clash as the Brigade Commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the purported shooting by his escorts.

“Headquarters 23 Brigade wishes to set the record straight that combined troops of 23 Brigade Garrison, Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC, and DSS received information about the communal clashes between Bachama and Chobo tribes of Lamurde LGA at about 0135 hours (1:30 AM) on Monday, 8 December 2025.

“The communal clash was a result of unresolved land disputes and ethnic acrimony between the Chobo and Bachama tribes. Troops moved swiftly to the affected communities to restore normalcy to Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde.”

During operations, a militia group suspected of supporting one of the warring communities attacked the troops.

The statement added, “In response, soldiers neutralised three gunmen, and additional members of the militia were later found neutralised along their withdrawal route, along with a motorcycle.

“When a potential attack on the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat was reported, troops moved to secure the area. Some women initially blocked their passage, and armed men allegedly fired indiscriminately. The Brigade clarified that no civilians were shot by Army personnel, and the two women later brought to the Local Government Lodge were reportedly killed due to the unprofessional handling of weapons by the militias.”

The Brigade expressed sympathy for the families of the slain women and urged the warring communities to embrace peace to prevent further loss of lives and property.