Army denies shooting civilians during Adamawa communal clash

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The Headquarters 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has rejected reports that its troops were involved in shooting civilians during a communal clash in Lamurde Local Government Area, Adamawa State, on Monday, 8 December 2025.

In a statement released by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai / 23 Brigade, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, on its X handle on Tuesday, the Brigade described the reports as “baseless and misleading,” adding that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were present at the scene.

“The commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the alleged incident,” the statement read.

The statement explained that combined security forces, including 23 Brigade troops, Nigerian Police, NSCDC, and DSS, responded to clashes between the Bachama and Chobo tribes, which arose from longstanding land disputes and ethnic tensions. The troops moved to affected communities, including Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde, to restore peace.

“It is necessary to inform the general public that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts was at the scene of the communal clash as the Brigade Commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the purported shooting by his escorts,” the statement added.

“Headquarters 23 Brigade wishes to set the record straight that combined troops of 23 Brigade Garrison, Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC, and DSS received information about the communal clashes between Bachama and Chobo tribes of Lamurde LGA at about 0135 hours (1:30 AM) on Monday, 8 December 2025.

“The communal clash was a result of unresolved land disputes and ethnic acrimony between the Chobo and Bachama tribes. Troops moved swiftly to the affected communities to restore normalcy to Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde,” the statement added.

During operations, a militia group suspected of supporting one of the warring communities attacked the troops.

“In response, soldiers neutralised three gunmen, and additional members of the militia were later found neutralised along their withdrawal route, along with a motorcycle.

“When a potential attack on the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat was reported, troops moved to secure the area. Some women initially blocked their passage, and armed men allegedly fired indiscriminately. The Brigade clarified that no civilians were shot by Army personnel, and the two women later brought to the Local Government Lodge were reportedly killed due to the unprofessional handling of weapons by the militias,” the statement read.

The Brigade expressed sympathy for the families of the slain women and urged the warring communities to embrace peace to prevent further loss of lives and property.

It reaffirmed its commitment to its constitutional duties in aid of civil authorities and called on the public to disregard the “malicious report.”

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