The women had gathered on Monday to demonstrate against what they described as the military’s failure to protect their communities from ongoing communal clashes in the northeastern region.
Eyewitnesses and relatives of the victims told Amnesty International that soldiers deployed to the volatile area confronted the protesters before gunshots were heard, leaving several women dead on the ground. The military has denied responsibility, claiming instead that local militias were involved in the shooting. Amnesty International rejected this account, calling the killings unacceptable and urging an immediate, independent investigation.
Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the military’s denial follows a familiar pattern seen in other cases of alleged extrajudicial killings. He told Channel Africa on Wednesday that witnesses remain adamant that soldiers carried out the shooting, adding that the speed of the military’s denial raised questions about whether any investigation was conducted at all.
Adamawa State is one of the regions worst affected by communal violence rooted in land disputes between small tribal communities. The area has also suffered from the wider Boko Haram conflict, leaving already fragile communities vulnerable to insecurity. In the latest incident, two tribes clashed over farmland, prompting local frustrations over what residents perceive as government failure to safeguard them.
According to witnesses, the women who led the protest carried only tree leaves as a symbol of peace and were unarmed. They accused authorities of failing to intervene effectively in the escalating violence. When soldiers encountered the protesters, an exchange reportedly took place before the situation deteriorated and shots were fired.
Amnesty International said similar incidents have occurred previously, including in 2018 when troops deployed to Adamawa State used excessive force against civilians during communal clashes. The organisation argues that the military lacks the capacity or willingness to engage communities peacefully.
Sanusi said victims’ families have already begun gathering evidence, including video footage of the shooting, and intend to pursue justice. He added that trust in military-led internal investigations is extremely low, with past inquiries often resulting in no accountability.
He called for an independent investigation, compensation for families, and the prosecution of soldiers responsible, warning that continued denials will only heighten community anger and distrust.
–ChannelAfrica–
