The death toll from Monday’s violent outbreak in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State has increased to nine, while 51 injured residents are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds following a protest that reportedly turned deadly.
Residents told newsmen on Tuesday that the victims — predominantly women — had gathered to voice their concerns over renewed communal hostilities when soldiers escorting a senior military officer allegedly opened fire.
A community elder, speaking after a headcount was completed, confirmed the updated figures:
“We now have nine confirmed dead. Twenty-three people are admitted in Numan, and another twenty-eight are receiving treatment in Yola. Altogether, that’s sixty casualties.”
Beyond the human toll, the unrest left a trail of destruction. Homes, farmlands, livestock, and other property reportedly worth hundreds of millions of naira were damaged, deepening fears in an already volatile region.
Army Rejects Allegations of Shooting
In contrast to the community’s account, the 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army firmly dismissed claims that its personnel fired on protesters.
In a statement issued Tuesday by Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, the brigade explained that troops from the Army, Police, NSCDC, and DSS were deployed only to dismantle roadblocks erected by protesters.
The statement further clarified that the senior officer allegedly being escorted, Brigadier General Amechi Agwu, was not present at the scene, noting:
“The commander was virtually attending the Chief of Army Staff’s operational briefing at the time of the alleged shooting.”
The Army insisted that its intervention was in response to security alerts regarding armed militia activity amid ongoing tensions between the Bachama and Chobo communities.
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According to the military, no civilian came under fire from its personnel.
Fear of Rising Casualties
With several of the injured reportedly in critical condition, residents worry that the number of deaths may rise in the coming days.
The situation has heightened anxiety in Lamurde and surrounding areas already grappling with recurrent communal strife.
