Lamurde Tragedy: Establish Truth, Justice and Institutional Responsibility
By Umar Ardo, Ph.D
The fatal shooting of women in Lamurde on 8 December 2025, which death toll has now risen to 11, has left the Bwatiye community, and indeed the entire state of Adamawa, in a state of deep grief. Even though the spate of violence and death in our country has now become a standard feature, but where unarmed protesting women are alleged to have been killed by our soldiers is a matter of serious public concern. This particular unfortunate incident has raised serious questions about the official narrative released by Headquarters 23 Brigade. The Bwatiye Youth Wing Worldwide insists that Lamurde town was calm at the time of the incident and that no militia activity occurred there; contrary to the Army’s statement linking the deaths to clashes in surrounding communities!
2. If, as the Youth Wing maintains, the victims were unarmed women expressing their concerns, then the circumstances of their deaths require urgent clarification. Supporting an independent investigation is not an attack on the Nigerian military; it is a necessary step to preserve public trust and uphold the values of professionalism the Army itself embraces.
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3. Honoring the victims means ensuring their deaths are neither dismissed, ignored nor misrepresented. The community’s call for truth and accountability is both legitimate and measured, and needs to be addressed.
4. Transparency ultimately serves the military as much as the community. A clear, credible inquiry would help resolve conflicting accounts, strengthen civil–military relations and reinforce the Army’s standing as a protector of all Nigerians.
5. The Bwatiye Youth Wing’s demands are straightforward; let the facts be established, let those responsible be held to account and let the protection of civilians remain paramount. As far as I can fathom, meeting these demands is essential not only for justice in Lamurde but for the health of Nigeria’s democratic and security institutions. I therefore support this call by the Bwatiye youths for the sake of establishing the truth and securing justice for all our citizens.
Ardo writes from Abuja.
