BREAKING: Land Dispute: Abuja Community Residents Abandon Homes After Soldiers’ Threats

According to information obtained, the army invaded the neighborhood on Sunday night and threatened to execute anyone who did not leave their houses within a day.

In an attempt to take land from native inhabitants, Nigerian Army soldiers are said to have invaded Tunga Maje in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.

It was discovered that the army had invaded the neighborhood on Sunday night and threatened to execute anyone who did not leave their houses within a day.

Residents were seen hastily collecting their possessions in multiple recordings that were recorded out of concern that the military would destroy their homes.

According to a person with knowledge of the matter, “The Army is claiming their land.” They arrived yesterday and requested that they leave this morning in order to fence their property.

The entire community, according to one of the impacted residents in the videos, is terrified of the situation.

“You can see people taking things away, including their clothes and food,” he said. Last night, none of us were able to sleep. We were confronted by the Nigerian military, who threatened to destroy all of our homes and bothered us with a quit notice.

“It began last week. We believed it to be a prank. However, they arrived this morning and started threatening to shoot us if we didn’t pack up our belongings. Now, everyone in the town is in danger. Even before the FCT was established, these houses had been around for donkey years.

“We are now forced to leave our houses. Where are we going? Through the local council, our senator, members of the House of Representatives, and even the president’s office, we have brought this situation to the attention of the administration. Why does the Nigerian military disregard the law? We’re homeless now. There is nowhere for anyone to remain. Watch our women get stuck. Where are we going today?

Claims of land ownership, court cases, and community demonstrations have all been features of the long-running and divisive land dispute between the Nigerian Army and the Tunga Maje community in the Federal Capital Territory. ​

Causes of the Conflict

The issue dates back to at least 2009 when the Nigerian Army declared sovereignty over land in Tunga Maje, stating it had been given to them for military use.

Conversely, the indigenous population, who have occupied the area for generations, believe that the land is their ancestral home and that they own genuine rights to it. They believe that the Army’s claims lack legal foundation and that no formal allocation was made to the military. ​

Tensions have increased over time, resulting in multiple conflicts between the military and the people.

Residents demonstrated against eviction orders allegedly given by the Nigerian Army at the National Assembly compound in 2016.

They emphasized that awaiting the resolution of legal proceedings, the Army was prohibited from acting further on the area by an existing court order. The Army allegedly carried on with their operations in spite of this, which sparked more discontent. ​

When Hamza Haruna Usman, a community member, was killed and others were injured during a confrontation between soldiers and Tunga Maje people in 2019, the situation worsened.

Road blockades and increased tensions resulted from the altercation, which happened during a demonstration against the Army’s purported annexation of their territory. ​

Tunga Maje’s native population has continuously opposed what they see as the Army’s unlawful intrusion.

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They demonstrated against the military’s operations in December 2022, claiming that they had destroyed farmlands, demolished homes, and intimidated locals.

When the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) stepped in, Dalhatu Musa Ezekiel, the FCT Commissioner for the PCC at the time, pointed out that the Army had no formal land allocation and emphasized that then-President Muhammadu Buhari had previously ordered the military to leave the area. ​

The Present Situation

The conflict has not been settled despite numerous interventions and court cases. The Tunga Maje community firmly protects its ancestral rights, but the Nigerian Army persists in claiming the territory.