Mary Talmon’s Death Ignites Fury As Amnesty Accuses Military Of “Horrific” Violence
By Paul Ebi
Nigeria was thrown into fresh shock and anger on Thursday after Amnesty International Nigeria publicly released the photograph of Mary Talmon, one of the nine women allegedly gunned down by soldiers during a peaceful protest in Lamorde, Adamawa State.
The explosive revelation, shared on the organisation’s official X handle, has intensified pressure on the Federal Government as Amnesty described the incident as a “horrific use of excessive force” by the Nigerian military.
According to Amnesty, Mary Talmon was among the unarmed women who took to the streets on December 8, 2025, demanding decisive government action over escalating communal clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities. What was meant to be a peaceful demonstration allegedly turned into a bloodbath.
> “Mary Talmon is one of the nine women killed on Monday 8 December 2025, when the military opened fire during a protest,” Amnesty wrote, sparking nationwide condemnation.
Amnesty Slams Government Response As “Too Slow, Ineffective, And Deadly”
In its blistering statement, Amnesty accused Nigerian authorities of failing miserably in both preventing violence and protecting citizens. The organisation criticised the government’s handling of the Bachama–Chobo crisis, calling the response “totally inadequate, too slow and ineffective.”
Amnesty further alleged that when security agencies did show up, their interventions made an already volatile situation even worse.
> “In Lamorde, security agencies used excessive or unlawful force, resulting in even more deaths and destruction,” the statement read.
Witnesses: “The Women Were Peaceful. They Had Nothing—Not Even Sticks.”
Local witnesses insisted the protesting women were unarmed, peacefully calling for stronger state intervention. But chaos erupted when troops allegedly arrived and opened fire without warning.
Shaken residents who spoke to reporters said the scene instantly turned into panic, screams, and bodies on the ground.
Demands For Justice Grow Louder
Amnesty has now demanded nothing less than a full, transparent, and impartial investigation, accusing authorities of attempting to downplay or suppress the magnitude of the tragedy.
> “The Nigerian authorities must transparently and impartially investigate this alleged horrific use of excessive force by the military,” it insisted.
With the newly released photograph of Mary Talmon circulating widely, the pressure on the Federal Government is mounting, and questions are exploding across the country:
How did a peaceful protest by unarmed women end in gunfire, death, and chaos?And who will be held accountable?
For now, the nation waits—angry, heartbroken, and demanding answers.
