A peacekeeping operation in Adamawa State has taken a deadly turn after soldiers allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters in Lamurde Local Government, killing at least, nine civilians five of them women and injuring several others.
The victims were part of a peaceful demonstration demanding government action over repeated attacks on their communities by unidentified armed groups. According to a witness accounts obtained , the women unarmed and chanting for protection were marching peacefully when soldiers moved in to disperse them. What began as an attempt at crowd control quickly spiralled into deadly force.
“They were simply asking the government to protect them. They carried no weapons, nothing,” a witness said.
The shootings immediately triggered widespread unrest, leading to clashes across several settlements. Communities including Tingno, Suwa, Balaifi, Wami 1, Wami 2 and Waduku were reportedly engulfed in violence and set ablaze as tensions escalated beyond control. A local source told our Correspondent that the actual death toll might be much higher than initial figures suggest.
“What we are seeing on the ground is far worse. The situation has spiralled completely out of control and more bodies are still being discovered,” the source said.
As the crisis deepened, residents fled their homes in large numbers, raising fears of a growing humanitarian emergency.
Reacting to the incident, Kwamoti Laori, Member Representing Demsa, Numan and Lamurde Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, condemned the killings.He described the shooting of unarmed civilians as inhumane, unjustifiable and a gross violation of human rights.
Laori also drew parallels with past tragedies in Dong, Kodomti, Lawaru, Nzuruwe and Shaforon in 2017, where civilians were similarly killed by security forces without accountability.
“It is deeply troubling that years later our communities are once again confronted with the same pattern of violations and impunity,” he said.
He called for an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into what he described as extrajudicial killings, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.
“Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Our democracy and our shared humanity demand no less,” Laori stated.
The lawmaker appealed for calm across affected communities and urged security agencies to exercise maximum restraint.
As at the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Adamawa State Government had issued an official statement on the incident. Tension remains high across Lamurde and neighbouring communities amid fears of further reprisals.
The latest violence comes against a backdrop of growing concern within the Bwatiye community. In the days preceding the protest, residents raised the alarm over the arrival of two trailer-loads of travellers ,numbering about 500 people, mostly believed to be from Niger Republic dumped near the Adamawa–Gombe boundary close to the conflict zone. Community leaders questioned why such a large group was transported into the area under unclear circumstances, accusing government authorities and the military of failing to provide explanations or assurances.
The incident deepened existing fears that the security situation was being mishandled or that powerful actors might be complicit in the unfolding conflict. Residents said their concerns were ignored, further ,fuelling the tensions that ultimately culminated in the deadly protest.
