The suit was filed by Cadrell Advocacy Centre, a non-governmental organisation providing legal support for victims of violence, acting on behalf of the deceased women and their families.
Nigeria has been taken to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice over the killing of women protesters in Adamawa State.
The suit was filed by Cadrell Advocacy Centre, a non-governmental organisation providing legal support for victims of violence, acting on behalf of the deceased women and their families.
The case concerns a peaceful protest on 8 December 2025 in the Lamurde Local Government Area.
Women staged the demonstration along a major road to express concern over the enforcement of a government-imposed curfew amid clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities.
The applicants allege that soldiers of the Nigerian Army opened fire on the protesters. The filing states that "after being temporarily blocked by the protesters, one of the personnels of the Respondent fired shots into the air" and "other personnel of the Respondent opened live fire on the women."
The filing also provides details of casualties. It says "at least nine women were killed instantly" and "several others sustained gunshot injuries."
Amnesty International Nigeria had also confirmed and condemned the killings.
The organisation had stated that "the killings were carried out by the personnels of the Respondent —.the soldiers of the Nigerian Army, based on eyewitness testimony and accounts from victims’ families."
The Nigerian Army had denied responsibility, blaming a local militia.
The filing adds that "no soldier has been arrested, prosecuted, or disciplined" and "no compensation has been paid to the families of the deceased."
Cadrell Advocacy Centre is asking the ECOWAS Court to declare that the killings "constitute a violation of Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 26 of the African Charter" and that Nigeria is liable for the actions of the Army.
The application also seeks "an order directing Nigeria to conduct an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation and prosecute those responsible," "an order awarding adequate compensation to the injured victims," and "general damages in the sum of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) against the Respondent for the unlawful violations of the rights to life of the deceased victims."
Legal counsel to the applicant, Evans Ufedi and Emmanuel Olalekan, filed the suit for service on the Nigerian Army, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Ministry of Defence.