The Nigerian Army on Tuesday admitted that it killed eight militiamen who took up arms against a rival community during a communal clash in Lamurde local government area of Adamawa State
Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations Sector, 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, hinted that during the exchange of fire, troops neutralised three of the gunmen and forced other members of the militia group to flee the general area.
He stated that the troops and other security agencies exploited the withdrawal route of the militia group, where five more neutralised members of the armed men were discovered with a motorcycle.
Speaking further, Abidoye said the communal clash was caused by unresolved land disputes and ethnic acrimony between Chobo and Bachama tribes.
In a statement issued by Abidoye in relation to the clash, he explained that a report published by an online platform last Monday levelled false allegations against the Brigade and its commander.
He contended that the report is misleading, adding that it is nothing short of an attempt to smear the image of the Brigade and its commander and by extension the Nigerian Army.
Abidoye added that neither the Brigade commander nor his escorts were at the scene of the communal clash as he was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the purported shooting by the escorts.
The Army spokesperson stated that troops moved swiftly to return normalcy to the affected areas of Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku and Lamurde.
