At least seven women have tragically lost their lives in a shooting incident involving soldiers tasked with escorting the Brigade Commander of the 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Amechi Agwu, in Adamawa State. The fatal event occurred on Monday afternoon at Rigange junction in Lamurde Local Government Area, sparking outrage and widespread grief within the community.
According to multiple eyewitnesses, the soldiers reportedly opened fire on a group of women who had assembled to protest perceived delays in security response following earlier attacks. The tense situation escalated rapidly, resulting in chaos and multiple casualties among the demonstrators.
The tension in Lamurde was already heightened due to a violent assault earlier in the day by suspected Chobo-speaking militia, who launched coordinated attacks on several communities within the local government area. These earlier attacks left residents distressed and demanding urgent security intervention to protect their lives and property.
A respected community leader, visibly emotional while speaking to reporters, revealed that 12 women were shot, with seven dying instantly at the scene. He added that five others were critically injured and currently receiving medical care at Numan General Hospital, fighting for their lives amidst the turmoil.
Local sources reported that the women had gathered specifically to voice their frustrations over what they described as unacceptable delays in the arrival of security forces. Many residents alleged that the troops only arrived hours after the militia had completed their rampage and withdrawn without resistance, leaving the community vulnerable and enraged.
“The women were angry, frustrated, and tired of burying their own,” another source explained. “They were demanding answers. Instead, what they got were bullets. It is a heartbreaking situation that could have been avoided.”
Journalists reached out to the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Apollonia Anele, for comments regarding the shooting. As of the time of reporting, calls to her mobile phone went unanswered, and a text message seeking clarification had not received a response. The Army had not issued any official statement addressing the incident, and efforts to obtain their position remain ongoing.
The tragic shooting has drawn significant attention from human rights observers and the public, raising questions about military conduct, crowd control, and the protection of civilians during protests. The community continues to mourn the victims while demanding accountability and swift action from authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.