A mass burial was held on Tuesday for nine women allegedly killed in Monday’s shooting incident during a communal clash in Lamurde Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State.

The solemn event, which took place at the Lamurde LGA Secretariat grounds, was attended by thousands of mourners and community members who used the occasion to demand immediate justice and accountability.

The deceased victims were identified as: Florence Frank, Suzy Tanko, Marry Talmon, Mercy Kennedy, Lucky Yakubu, Pwamwasari Tami, Mary Shikauno, Destiny Gibson, and Hunbokwama Nickson.

Wrapped in mats and laid side-by-side, the victims’ bodies fueled the community’s outrage over what many are calling an “unjustified military assault.”

The Bwate Youth Wing, representing the Bachama-speaking communities, used the burial to issue a fierce condemnation of the Nigerian Army, insisting military personnel were directly responsible for the deaths.

Abner Kwakano, the Youth Wing’s Secretary-General, stated, “We maintain without hesitation that the army opened fire on innocent women, resulting in deaths and injuries. This is the truth as witnessed directly by the community.”

The youth wing demanded a transparent, independent investigation, asserting that anything less than full accountability would insult the memory of the victims.

The Nigerian Army, through the Headquarters 23 Brigade Garrison, has categorically denied being responsible for the civilian casualties.

It said a combined security troops (Army, Police, NSCDC, DSS) responded to clashes between the Bachama and Chobo tribes at about 1:30 AM on Monday, December 8, 2025, over land disputes.

The Army claimed that during operations, a militia group suspected of fighting for the Chobo community attacked the troops, resulting in a firefight where three gunmen were neutralized.

Troops later received a distress call about a planned attack on the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat. While moving to secure it, women blocked the road to deny passage, and armed men suspected to be fighting for the Bachama community fired indiscriminately within the area.

The Army firmly stated that no woman was shot or injured by Army personnel. It asserted that two women brought to the Local Government Lodge later were reportedly killed due to the unprofessional handling of weapons by local militias.

Further complicating the narrative, the Chobo Youth Forum, in a statement signed by Engr. Gideon Sam, countered claims that its tribal militia initiated the violence.

The forum alleged that Chobo communities were the victims, with their villages razed by a Bachama militia, and described efforts to blame them for the first aggression as “false, misleading and dangerous.”

Amidst the conflicting accusations, Amnesty International’s Nigeria office has weighed in, stating the agency confirmed that soldiers killed the nine protesters, citing accounts from witnesses and victims’ families.

You may also like