Adamawa: Reps Orders Probe Into Alleged Killing of Women, 13-Year-Old by Soldiers
A full-scale investigation has been ordered by the House of Representatives into the reported killing of eight unarmed women — among them a 13-year-old girl — during a protest in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The incident, said to involve military personnel, has ignited nationwide concern as tensions escalate across the affected communities.
PulseNets learnt that lawmakers issued a firm caution to the Chief of Defence Staff, directing all troops currently deployed in Lamurde and other parts of Adamawa to maintain maximum restraint, uphold professional standards, and strictly adhere to the rules of engagement amid growing unease in the region.
The resolution followed an urgent motion of public importance raised by Rep. Kwamoti Laori (PDP–Adamawa). In his address, the lawmaker drew attention to what he described as a dangerous and fast-spreading wave of violence destabilising Lamurde. He warned that the crisis had already claimed lives, destroyed property, and aggravated deep-seated community grievances at a time when Nigeria is battling heightened insecurity driven by insurgent activities, kidnappers, and armed groups.
According to information obtained by PulseNets, community members maintain that the women and the teenager were participating in a peaceful demonstration when the alleged shootings occurred.
Laori, while addressing the House, delivered a strongly worded condemnation of the killings:
“The killing of eight unarmed women, including a 13-year-old girl, by personnel of the Nigerian Military during a peaceful demonstration in Lamurde LGA, and the injuring of more than 30 others — many with life-threatening fractures — currently receiving treatment in Numan and Yola Specialist Hospitals, is nothing short of tragic.”
He further recalled that previous incidents in Dong, Kodomti, Lawaru, Nzuruwe, and Shaforon communities in 2017 shared striking similarities, where civilians suffered at the hands of security operatives without meaningful investigation, prosecution, or compensation. According to him:
“This tragic incident mirrors earlier occurrences where no one was held accountable, suggesting a disturbing pattern of impunity.”
The lawmaker insisted that the shootings amounted to a blatant violation of constitutionally guaranteed human rights, stressing:
“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the killing of unarmed civilians. It is inhumane, it is unjustifiable, and it strikes at the heart of our fundamental freedoms.”
Laori warned that failure to address the situation promptly could further destabilise the region and fuel existing resentments worsened by years of insecurity.
Responding to the motion, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas instructed the Committees on Human Rights, Defence, and Internal Security to immediately embark on a fact-finding mission to Lamurde. PulseNets learnt that the committees have been given two weeks to present their findings to the House.
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Additionally, the Committee on Legislative Compliance has been mandated to ensure that all resolutions are implemented. Lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased women and the teenage girl.
