A human rights organization, Cadrell Advocacy Centre, has instituted a lawsuit against the Federal Government of Nigeria at the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, seeking N10 billion in damages over the alleged extra-judicial killing of at least nine unarmed women protesters in Adamawa State.
The suit, filed in the public interest, concerns the incident of December 8, 2025, in Lamurde Local Government Area. The women were reportedly staging a peaceful road protest over security failures during communal clashes when they were allegedly fired upon by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
According to the application, witnesses stated that after a soldier fired shots into the air, others opened fire on the women, killing at least nine instantly and injuring several others.
The rights group, led by its Executive Director, Evans Ufeli, accused the Nigerian Army of using excessive and lethal force against civilians, violating their rights to life, dignity, and peaceful assembly as guaranteed under regional and international charters.
Cadrell told the court that despite the seriousness of the incident, the Nigerian Army denied responsibility, blamed a local militia, and has failed to conduct an impartial investigation or prosecute anyone involved.
The organization is seeking a declaration of Nigeria’s liability, an order for an independent investigation, prosecution of those responsible, compensation for victims’ families, and institutional reforms to regulate military engagement with civilians.
The Federal Government is yet to file a formal response to the suit at the regional court.
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Tag: Human Rights, Lawsuit, ECOWAS Court, Adamawa State
Disclaimer: The details of this report are based on court filings and statements from the involved human rights organization. They represent allegations yet to be proven in court and do not reflect the editorial opinion of CDA News Nigeria.
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