Two troubling events that unfolded within 48 hours have cast a harsh spotlight on Nigeria’s commitment to human rights.
On Monday, December 8, 2025, unarmed women protesters were reportedly gunned down in Lamurde, Adamawa State. A day later, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Human Rights Day.
The contrast between the two moments has raised uncomfortable questions about the value placed on the lives and rights of citizens.
According to eyewitnesses and media reports, the women—who were protesting a communal dispute between the Bachama and Chobo communities—were waving leaves and chanting grievances when they came under heavy gunfire from men said to be wearing military uniforms.
The protest, which had allegedly escalated into fears of an attempt to vandalise the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat, drew the attention of a nearby military contingent.
Witnesses said soldiers moved through the crowd and secured a defensive position around the secretariat. Moments later, gunshots rang out, triggering panic as the women fled in different directions.
At least nine women were reportedly killed by bullets, while about 10 others sustained gunshot wounds and injuries linked to the ensuing stampede.
The incident sparked widespread outrage within Nigeria and beyond.
However, the circumstances surrounding the shootings remain unclear, particularly the role of the military personnel who were present at the scene.
Critics argue that having secured the area and gained control of the precincts, the soldiers were duty-bound to manage the situation and prevent any form of violence.
Complicating matters further, the military has denied responsibility for the shootings, instead attributing the killings to an unnamed local militia group.
This position has fueled speculation that “unknown gunmen” were responsible—an explanation that many Nigerians find difficult to accept.
The term “unknown gunmen” gained prominence in Nigeria amid guerrilla-style attacks in the South-East, often linked to separatist violence.
Those attacks were typically characterised by stealth operations, surprise assaults, and rapid withdrawals—not open gunfire in the presence of armed security forces.
Observers note that the Lamurde incident does not fit this pattern.
With soldiers reportedly in close proximity and in control of the area, questions persist about how armed assailants could operate freely, or why the military failed to intervene decisively to stop the shooting.
The perceived inaction of the soldiers has deepened public concern, suggesting either negligence or serious lapses in command and response.
Many argue that if gunmen indeed carried out the attack, the military’s failure to confront or neutralise them represents a grave breach of duty.
The Lamurde killings have since been cited as an example of the “gaps” within Nigeria’s military establishment—an issue recently acknowledged by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, during his screening at the National Assembly.
Together with other allegations, including claims that soldiers abandoned duty posts shortly before attacks elsewhere in the country, the incident underscores the urgent need to reassess civil-military engagement and operational accountability.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with asymmetric security threats across diverse regions, analysts stress that effective military deployment must align with the expectations and safety of civilian communities.
Until clear answers emerge about what truly happened in Lamurde, the deaths of the protesting women will remain a painful symbol of unresolved questions around security, accountability, and human rights in Nigeria.
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