Women
DESCRIBING as a clear case of avoidable extrajudicial executions of citizens, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest and prosecution of the military general and the soldiers who shot and killed 7 women protesters in Adamawa state and injured several others during a protest in Lamurde Local Government Area Council of Adamawa State.
HURIWA has also called on the leaderships of the different segments of the Armed forces of Nigeria to stop the deteriorating state of respect for the human rights of citizens by armed security forces just as the Rights group lamented that efforts made by previous Service Chiefs in the armed forces of Nigeria to institutionalise the mainstreaming of human rights promotion and protection seem to have warned dangerously since the comingbof the current administration.
This latest deadly episode of the killing by soldiers of 7 women protesters while 11 others were injured during a protest in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, is just one out of the dozens of cases of extra legal killings of citizens by armed soldiers around the Country just as HURIWA said impunity, lawlessness and total disregard for the time-tested rules of engagement in the internal security operations by soldiers have become a commonplace especially since Msy 2023 even as HURIWA regretted that the heads of the armed forces don’t bother to emphasise the primary of respect for the human rights of citizens to the hearingbof their foot soldiers. HURIWA condemned the killing of women protesters as a violation of the Rules of engagement.
HURIWA is of the considered opinion that:
“Section 217 (2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution and Section (8) (1) and (3) of the Armed Forces Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (LFN) 2004 provide code of conduct and rules of engagement for the armed forces in internal security.
For instance, no officer or soldier must be found aiding or abetting any act of arson, vandalism or unprofessional conduct; and troops are duty bound to intervene in any situation to avoid a breakdown in peace, stability or law and order of an area where they are deployed.
Section 217 (2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that Nigeria’s armed forces shall suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authority to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, Commander-in-Chief reinforced by Sect (8) (1) and (3) of the Armed Forces Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (LFN) 2004, it stressed that this presupposes that troops have to use necessary force to quell crisis resulting in deaths, injury and damages to properties.
Other highlights of the ROE include:
• The principle of minimum force and proportionality must be applied at all times; whenever operational situation permits, every reasonable effort shall be made to control the situation through measures short of using force, including personal contact and negotiations; the use of lethal force shall only be resorted to if all other means to control the situation have failed or in case of unexpected attack or suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack during which a delay could lead to loss of life or serious injury to personnel; and that any force applied must be limited in its intensity and duration; it must also be commensurate with the level of threat posed.
• Force shall be used only when absolutely necessary to achieve an immediate aim; the decision to open fire shall be made only on orders and under the control of on-scene commander, unless there is insufficient time to obtain such order. Fire can however be opened if the life of a soldier, any law-abiding member of the public and/or property of which it is our duty to protect is in grave danger; fire must be aimed and controlled. Indiscriminate firing is not permitted.
• Fire may be opened to forcefully stop any vehicle that fails to stop at a checkpoint or road block when ordered to stop for search; automatic fire will only be opened as a last resort; avoid collateral damage; after fire has ceased, render medical assistance and record details of incident both in writing and using audio/visual equipment whether or not casualty has been recorded; and whenever in doubt, seek clarification from higher headquarters.
HURIWA is therefore calling for the immediate arrests of the Brigade commander who gave the order for the killing of protesters and also the killer soldiers who shot directly at the women, who were seen holding leaves and were reported to have blocked the movement of troops into the area, accusing security agencies of delayed responses and biased interventions in favour of the Chobo community.
However, during the confrontation, sources said the military allegedly fired shots into the crowd, and four of the women died on the spot, while three others died in the hospital. It was further learnt that 11 others who were injured are currently receiving treatment.
“They came out peacefully, carrying leaves, begging for security. Instead, they were met with live gunfire.
The wounded were rushed to Numan General Hospital, where medical officials say some remain in critical condition,” District Head of Gyawana, a community in Lamurde LGA, Chief Agoso Bamaiyi, said.
HURIWA recalled that the Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde Local Government Area, following the incident.
The directive was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hussaini Hammangabdo, who confirmed that the governor has instructed security operatives to immediately move into the troubled communities.
The statement said Fintiri had ordered security agencies to respond swiftly to the renewed crisis to re-establish stability and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The statement reads, “The Adamawa State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde Local Government Area with immediate effect following a renewed communal clash that broke out on Sunday evening”
HURIWA has therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the heads of the armed forces to rebuild the internal system to educate soldiers on the constitutional demands of accountability and the mainstreaming of respect for the human rights of citizens in their operations.
A.I
Dec. 9, 2025
Tags: HURIWA
