BREAKING: Fear Grips Abuja Community as Soldiers Force Residents to Flee Over Land Row
It was informed that the army had invaded the neighborhood on Sunday night and threatened to execute everybody who did not leave their houses within a day.
In an attempt to reclaim land from native inhabitants, Nigerian Army soldiers are said to have invaded Tunga Maje in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.
The town was overrun by the army on Sunday night, and those who did not leave their homes within 24 hours were threatened with death.
Residents were shown frantically packing their possessions in multiple recordings that were obtained out of concern that the military would destroy their homes.
The Army is claiming their land, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. They came yesterday and requested that they leave this morning in order to fence their property.
According to one of the impacted locals in the videos, the situation has the entire town in a state of terror.
“You can see people taking their belongings, including their clothes and food,” he said. Last night, none of us was able to sleep. We received a quit notice from the Nigerian military, who threatened to come and destroy all of our homes.
“It began last week.” We assumed it was a prank. But when they arrived this morning, they started threatening to shoot us if we didn’t pack up our belongings. Now everyone in the community is in danger. Even before the FCT was established, these homes had been around for a long time.
We must immediately abandon our homes. So, where are we going? Through our senator, the local council, 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 Nigeria’s military disregard the law? We’re homeless now. No one has a place to stay. Observe our spouses stranded. We’re going where today?
Land ownership claims, 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. ”
The Dispute’s History
The battle began at least in 2009 when the Nigerian Army claimed possession of land in Tunga Maje, claiming it had been given to them for military use.
In contrast, the native inhabitants, who have lived in the region for many centuries, argue that the land is their ancestral home and that they have rightful claims to it. They contend that there is no official allocation to the military and that the Army’s assertions are unsupported by the law. ”
Tensions between the military and the people have increased over time, resulting in multiple clashes.
Residents protested over eviction notices allegedly given by the Nigerian Army at the National Assembly compound in 2016.
They emphasized that a court order was in place prohibiting the Army from acting further on the property until the legal proceedings were concluded. The Army allegedly carried on with their operations in spite of this, which sparked additional discontent. ”
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The situation worsened in 2019 after a confrontation between soldiers and people of Tunga Maje killed Hamza Haruna Usman and injured others.
Roadblocks and increased tensions resulted from the altercation, which happened during a demonstration against the Army’s purported annexation of their territory. ”
Tunga Maje’s indigenous population has continuously opposed what they see as the Army’s unlawful intrusion.
They protested the military’s operations in December 2022, claiming that they were damaging farmlands, tearing down homes, and threatening locals.
The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) stepped in, with Dalhatu Musa Ezekiel, the FCT Commissioner for the PCC at the time, pointing out that the Army had no formal land allocation and highlighting that then-President Muhammadu Buhari had previously ordered the military to leave the area. ”
Present Circumstance
The conflict has not been settled in spite of several interventions and court cases. While the Tunga Maje community adamantly protects its ancestral rights, the Nigerian Army still claims the area.
