One Killed, Several Injured As Council Chairman Engages In Land Grabbing
…Sends Army, Police Personnel to attack residents
By The9JaTREND
Kuchibuyi community in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is presently in sorrow and chaos after some lawless Nigerian Army and police personnel on Saturday invaded the area in a land grabbing spree backed by the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya.
It was learnt that a violent confrontation between the soldiers, policemen and youths in the area resulted in the killing of a youth, with serious injuries to others, as well as the arrest of several residents.
The clash allegedly was a result of a land grabbing scandal involving the Chairman of the Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya; and the Managing Director of Grow Homes Estate Ltd, one Mr Roland; who led all the military and police personnel.
In videos on social media, residents were seen resisting an invasion by fully armed Nigerian Army and police officers.
Multiple sources confirmed that the deceased, identified as Attahiru Abubakar, a recently married youth, was shot dead during the incident.
Two others reportedly sustained critical injuries and were taken away by security forces, while an unspecified number of youths remain in detention at the Police Area Command in Kubwa.
According to multiple local sources, tensions began earlier this year on February 1 when surveyors, escorted by a military van carrying three armed personnel, entered the village to begin surveying land.
The unrest stems from a long-standing dispute over land ownership in Kuchibuyi, a village renowned for supplying agricultural produce to Kubwa and surrounding areas.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the villagers say they were alarmed when military personnel and surveyors entered the area on February 1, 2025, to conduct land surveys.
However, the surveyors claimed the land had been allocated by the Bwari Area Council for a mini barracks to accommodate retired military personnel.
According to the source, a soft copy of the survey map, reportedly bearing the Bwari Area Council’s authorisation, was sent to the village head, Isiaka Dauda. The surveyors then left, promising to return with formal documentation.
Another explained that trouble escalated on August 2, 2025, when Mr. Roland returned with a new team of surveyors to continue work on the disputed land.
One of the sources said, “The village of Kuchibuyi, reputable for sustaining Kubwa township and Abuja at large with agricultural produce was on Saturday the 2nd day of August 2025 thrown into serious anguish, lamentations and anger over the killing and arrest of their youths for questioning the legal capacity of the Bwari Area Council Chairman, John Gabaya to allocate land for residence allegedly for army personnel, insisting that it is only the Hon. Minister of the FCT that has such power.
“On the 1st day of February 2025, some surveyors accompanied by a military van with 3 armed personnel arrived at the village and commenced a survey of the village.
“The youths approached them and the surveyors explained that the land was allocated as mini barracks for retired personnel. A soft copy of a survey map bearing Bwari Area Council was forwarded to the village head Isiaka Dauda. They later left and promised to come back with the allocation paper.”
Another source stated “On the 2nd day of August 2025, the M.D of Grow Homes LTD, Mr. Roland in the company of some surveyors was accosted while surveying the land and taken to the Chief Palace for questioning. While there, Mr. Roland put up a call to the Chairman of the Council who sent a contingent of police and army to the village.
“The security personnel on arrival shot at the villagers and arrested some yet to be ascertained number of the youths. One of the youths called Attahiru was shot dead by the personnel and his corpse taken away, while two others who were shot were also taken away by the police.
“The arrested youths are currently in detention at the Police Area Command, Kubwa It is the fraudulent practice of Bwari Area Council Chairman to issue a backdated allocation papers to land grabbers for private estates. He connives with the Counsellors, chiefs and sometimes the security agencies to collect lands in occupation of the villagers in exchange for money.
“This is the secret behind the unexplained large wealth of the Chairman and his Council members. Kuchigbuyi village became a target when the Hon. Minister of FCT Nyeson Wike commenced the construction of the road connecting the village through Kubwa township to Bwari town,” the source added.
Sources further alleged that substantial sums are now being spent in attempts to suppress information about the incident and to shield those involved from accountability.
The deceased’s body was reportedly removed by the security team, and the injured victims are yet to be accounted for by authorities. (SaharaReporter)
