1 killed, many injured as FCT, Niger fight over land
One person was reportedly killed, while many others were injured following a renewed violence over boundary dispute between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Niger State. Abuja Metro reports that dispute on some lands at the boundary between the two neighbours is yet to be settled more than three decades after the relocation of […]
1 killed, many injured as fct, niger fight over land
One person was reportedly killed, while many others were injured following a renewed violence over boundary dispute between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Niger State.
Abuja Metro reports that dispute on some lands at the boundary between the two neighbours is yet to be settled more than three decades after the relocation of the nation’s capital to Abuja from Lagos.
Most of the disputes had been on Dakwa town, which both Bwari Area Council of the FCT, and the Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State have been claiming the ownership.
There are two district chiefs in the town, with one appointed from the Bwari Area Council in the FCT while the second is loyal to the Tafa LGA of Niger State.
Our reporter learnt that the renewed violence led to the death of a resident, identified as Yusuf Ahmad, with at least three others sustaining gun injuries allegedly from the police who went to the area on Saturday to arrest the chief loyal to the FCT.
The deceased was buried on Sunday and the injured persons were still in the hospital, our reporter further gathered.
Residents told Abuja Metro on Sunday that seven other residents loyal to the Tafa LGA of Niger State were reportedly injured in the crises that erupted between the two parties in the communities.
The crisis
Speaking to the Abuja Metro on Sunday, the Chief of Dakwa, loyal to the Bwari Area Council, Malam Musa Alhassan Baba Chukuri, said the renewed trouble came after a recent visit by a team from the National Boundary Commission to clarify the lingering issue.
He said the officials declared that the boundary between the two neighbours, is located around the Zuma Rock along the Abuja/Kaduna express way and not in Dakwa.
The royal father said the team led by a deputy director in the commission pointed at an erected beacon around Zuma rock as a sign of the boundary.
The chief’s statement was corroborated by another resident of the community, Muhammad Babangida Aliyu, during a phone interview with our reporter yesterday.
The resident, who is also a traditional title holder of Majidadin Dakwa from the part of the chief loyal to the Tafa LGA in Niger State, however, faulted the claims by the National Boundary Commission, which identified the area around Zuma Rock as the boundary between the two states.
According to him, the authentic boundary between the two neighbours is around a river between the neighbouring Dei-Dei town and extended to Zuba town all within the FCT, on one hand and Garam and New Bwari towns, on the other axis of Niger State.
He added that worried by the new development, the governor of Niger State, Muhammad Umar Bago, delegated the chairmen of Suleja and Tafa LGAs to visit the identified side around the Zuma Rock and allegedly directed them to destroy the said beacon erected there.
The traditional title holder said, “The governor had personally visited the site on Saturday in order to see for himself, where he was briefed about how a youth leader was beaten along with six other residents by some youth loyal to the Bwari area council in the community.
‘’Annoyed by the development, the governor directed the police area commander in Suleja to invite the chief along with another cleric in the community, known as the Sarkin Malamai.
‘’The area commander went to the chief’s palace and invited him along with the Sarkin Malamai, which prompted some youth to gather around the palace to protest.
‘’The police area commander then decided to leave the venue without the chief, only to be confronted by the protesting youth.’’
He added that in the cause of protecting themselves from the angry youths, the police allegedly fired gun shots, which resulted in the death of one of the protesters, as well as injuring some others.
Also speaking in that regard, the chief of Dakwa, Malam Alhassan Musa Babachukuri, said the visit by the boundary commission to the area followed a complaint lodged by a resident, Sheikh Muhammad Alkwandawi, the Sarkin Malamai of Abuja, over a land within the community.
“So, the area commander came to my palace on Saturday and invited me to follow him to Zuma Rock, which according to him was the direction given to him by the Niger State governor.
“Before then, the cleric had also called me over the phone that the area commander had invited him on the same issue.
“On my part, I told the area commander that I can’t just follow him like that as I needed to inform my superiors in the Bwari Area Council first.
“I was also called over the phone at the same time that the said beacon, located around the Zuma Rock was destroyed in the presence of the governor, on that very day.
‘’So, I was directed by the Bwari council to inform the police at Zuba division about the invitation, with a promise that they would equally inform the FCT commissioner of police,” he said.
The chief added that the police area commander decided to leave the palace at that juncture, but alleged that the police chief used a gun in his possession to shoot a resident of the community which resulted in his death.
The chief further alleged that some policemen that accompanied the commander, also shot at three other residents who gathered around the palace.
He said, “The victims sustained various degrees of injuries, while the policemen headed toward their vehicle, and zoomed off.”
We’re not involved in shooting – Police
When contacted, the Suleja Police Area Commander, Muhammad Sani Musa, referred our reporter to the Niger State Police Command.
The spokesman for the command, Wasiu Abiodun, a superintendent, said police operatives were not involved in any shooting.
He said, ‘’On 17th May, 2025 at about 3:30pm, police operatives of Suleja Area Command led by the Area Commander, Suleja, on investigation of a petition received against one Sarkin Mallaman Dakwa and Alhassan Baba Chukuli bordering on conspiracy, inciting disturbance, assault and boundary issues, went to invite the above-mentioned persons.
“On getting to the residence of Sarkin Dakwa, he was not around and the team proceeded to invite the village head, Alhassan Baba Chukuli. He was invited and he declined, in the presence of a large crowd he mobilised bearing dangerous weapons such cutlasses, knives, bottles and Dane guns, the police team left the residence peacefully.
“Immediately the police team left, there were reports of shooting among themselves and loss of life. However, there was no confrontation between the police and the people at the time of the invitation.’’
The PPRO said investigation into the incident was in progress and that updates would be made available in due course.