Saturday, March 29, 2025
Updated: December 10, 2025, 06:12 AM IST
A shocking incident in northeastern Nigeria has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over human rights abuses, after Nigerian soldiers were accused of opening fire on women protesters, killing at least nine and injuring several others.
According to eyewitnesses and Amnesty International, the incident took place on Monday in Lamurde, a local government area in Adamawa state. Women had taken to the streets in protest against the military’s handling of ongoing communal violence in the region.
The Associated Press (AP) reported on Tuesday that at least 10 women were injured in the shooting, with some sustaining serious wounds.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that a group of women was protesting peacefully along a road, voicing their anger over the continued clashes and what they see as the army’s failure to enforce a government-imposed curfew. The protesters reportedly blocked the road to prevent soldiers from passing through.
Witnesses said a soldier initially fired a warning shot into the air. Moments later, he allegedly began shooting directly at the women, triggering chaos and panic. Several women collapsed on the spot, while others were rushed to nearby medical facilities.
The Nigerian Army has strongly denied the allegations. In an official statement, the military rejected claims that its personnel fired on civilians.
According to the army, the deaths were caused not by soldiers but by a local militia group. The statement alleged that members of the militia mishandled their weapons, leading to accidental gunfire and casualties. The army maintained that its troops acted professionally and within the rules of engagement.
Amnesty International has contradicted the army’s claims. The organization’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, said Amnesty conducted interviews with eyewitnesses and victims’ families, all of whom confirmed that the gunfire came from soldiers.
Sanusi described the incident as part of a “long-standing pattern of human rights violations” by the Nigerian military, especially during the suppression of protests and civilian demonstrations. Amnesty has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the killings.
The Lamurde area has long been affected by tensions between two ethnic communities—the Bachama and the Chobo—over land disputes. Repeated outbreaks of violence prompted the government to impose a curfew. However, local residents allege that security forces have failed to properly enforce it, allowing clashes to continue unchecked.
Local councillor Lawson Ignatius said public anger has been growing because both the army and police have been unable or unwilling to stop the violence. “People were frustrated and felt abandoned,” he said, explaining why women led the protest.
This is not the first time Nigeria’s security forces have faced allegations of using excessive force. In 2020, soldiers opened fire on protesters in Lagos during demonstrations against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement. A government-appointed judicial panel later described that incident as a “massacre,” further damaging the army’s reputation at home and abroad.
The Nigerian military is already under growing international scrutiny. Former US President Donald Trump has previously accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christians, alleging targeted violence. Local residents, however, argue that both Muslim and Christian communities have suffered equally from the ongoing unrest.
Human rights groups say the latest incident could intensify international pressure on Nigeria to address alleged abuses by its security forces.
Amnesty International has demanded an immediate, independent investigation into the shooting, along with accountability for those responsible. The organization has also urged Nigerian authorities to ensure justice for the victims and prevent further abuses against civilians.
As tensions remain high in Adamawa, the incident has once again raised urgent questions about military conduct, civilian protection, and accountability in Nigeria’s conflict-hit regions.
