Society
Absolutely False! – HQ 23 Brigade Nigerian Army Dispels Claim Commander’s Escort Shot At Women Protesters
clarified that the Commander was not physically present at the scene on Monday
Headquarters 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has dismissed as baseless and misleading reports alleging that the Brigade Commander or his escorts were involved in shooting women during a communal clash in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Brigade clarified that the Commander was not physically present at the scene on Monday, December 8, 2025, but was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the incident. The statement described the reports as an attempt to tarnish the image of the Brigade and the Nigerian Army.
According to Headquarters 23 Brigade, combined troops from the Brigade Garrison, Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC, and DSS responded to clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities that erupted over unresolved land disputes and ethnic tensions around 1:30 a.m. The troops swiftly moved to restore normalcy in affected communities, including Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde.
During operations, troops engaged a militia armed group suspected to be linked to the Chobo community. Three gunmen were neutralized in the ensuing firefight, while others fled. Further operations along the militia’s withdrawal route led to the discovery of five additional armed men with a motorcycle.
A distress call reported a planned attack on the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat, and while moving to secure the area, troops encountered women blocking the road. Armed men, believed to be fighting for the Bachama, fired indiscriminately. The troops created a safe passage through the crowd without injuring anyone, and the Secretariat was secured.
The Brigade noted that two women who were later found dead were not shot by the troops, but rather the casualties resulted from mishandling of firearms by untrained local militia members.
Expressing sympathy to the families of the deceased, Headquarters 23 Brigade urged the warring communities to embrace peace and avoid further loss of lives and property. The statement reiterated the Army’s commitment to its constitutional duties and to maintaining peace and stability in its Area of Responsibility.
The Brigade called on the public to disregard the “malicious report” and assured that all operational engagements are conducted with professionalism and due diligence.
Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, signed the statement on December 9, 2025.
