Fresh protests erupted in Numan local government area (LGA) of Adamawa State on Tuesday after allegations surfaced that Nigerian Army personnel shot and killed women during an operation to restore order in neighbouring Lamurde.
The demonstrations followed Monday’s communal clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities. Seven women were reported dead and 11 others injured during a protest in Lamurde, where demonstrators accused the military of failing to act swiftly to contain the violence.
Witnesses said women carrying leaves blocked troop movement into the area, alleging the intervention was biased in favour of the Chobo community. During the standoff, soldiers allegedly opened fire, with four women said to have died at the scene and three more later in hospital. Several injured protesters were taken to Numan General Hospital, and officials warned the casualty toll could rise.
The Nigerian Army denied the allegations. In a statement, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for Sector 4, Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, said troops came under attack from armed militias linked to the clashes and responded professionally, killing three gunmen.
He said the militants had attempted to burn down the Lamurde local government secretariat and that five more armed suspects were intercepted as they retreated. According to the army, two women who died were victims of accidental discharge by the militias mishandling automatic weapons, not army fire.
In response to the unrest, the Adamawa State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew in Lamurde and deployed security personnel to enforce compliance. Hundreds of women dressed in black marched through Numan, blocking major roads and demanding justice. Some of the bodies were later transported to Lamurde for burial.
Protesters, including Humwapwa Nanso, Bwalason Samson and Wisdom Christopher, accused security forces of delayed and discriminatory action. “Our women were killed by uniformed personnel, leaving us in grief,” Nanso said.
Samson claimed troops fired at close range on unarmed women. “No one had weapons; we were simply holding leaves,” he said.
Kwamoti B. Laori, the federal lawmaker representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde constituency, condemned the killings and called for a transparent, independent investigation. He said the incident evoked memories of past security violations in nearby communities in 2017, where allegations of abuses were never credibly probed.
Laori urged calm and called on security agencies to exercise restraint and adhere to rules of engagement as authorities work to de-escalate tensions.
