The Nigerian Army’s Headquarters 23 Brigade has denied shooting any civilians during the recent communal fight in the Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, claiming that the two women found dead were murdered as a result of militia members mishandling their weapons.
The statement came after claims that soldiers escorting the Brigade Commander of 23 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Yola, shot and killed numerous women during the incident on Monday.
In a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, described the claims as “baseless and misleading,” emphasizing that “neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were at the scene of the communal clash.”
“The commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the alleged incident,” the statement added.
The Brigade claimed that integrated security forces, comprising troops from the 23 Brigade, the Nigerian Police, the NSCDC, and the DSS, responded to violent battles between the Bachama and Chobo tribes caused by long-standing land disputes and racial tensions.
He stated that troops were sent to impacted communities such as Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde to restore order.
Reiterating its position, the Brigade maintained, “It is necessary to inform the general public that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were 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 Brigade stated that troops received distress reports at 1:35am on Monday and responded quickly to restore order.
During the operation, a militia group suspected of supporting one of the warring sides attacked the troops.
Soldiers neutralized three gunmen and later found additional members of the militia along their withdrawal route, along with a motorcycle.
“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 added.
The Brigade expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged communities to embrace peace to prevent further bloodshed.
They reaffirmed their commitment to performing their constitutional duties in aid of civil authorities and urged the public to disregard a “malicious report.”
The state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, had declared a 24-hour curfew in Lamurde Local Government Area on Monday following the bloody crisis between the communities.
In response to the event, the Bwatiye Youth Wing, the Bachama ethnic group’s umbrella body, condemned what it called reprehensible acts by some army officers assigned to a peacekeeping mission in the area.
In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Abner Kwakano, the organization accused the soldiers of employing excessive force.
“It is important to remind the public that the Tsobo (Pire) launched their first coordinated attacks on Waduku and Rigange on July 7, 2025, leading to loss of lives, destruction of homes, and the burning of villages,” the statement read.
“Following this, the Adamawa State Government intervened, and negotiations toward a peaceful resolution were ongoing before this most recent and unprovoked strike.
“Despite these efforts toward peace, soldiers deployed to maintain calm opened fire on unarmed women protesting in Lamurde town, an area not directly involved in the communal crisis.
“This tragic action resulted in the death of no fewer than seven innocent women and left many others seriously injured.”
Kwakano described the actions of the soldiers as unprofessional and unjustifiable.
“While we acknowledge and respect the Nigerian Army as an institution. The actions of those involved raise legitimate concerns about bias, excessive force, and a departure from peacekeeping standards,” the group added.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")