BREAKING: Abuja youth shot dead as land dispute turns bloody

DDM News

Kuchibuyi community in the Kubwa area of Abuja is reeling in shock following a deadly clash involving soldiers and police officers.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the violence erupted on Saturday, August 2, 2025, during an attempted land seizure allegedly coordinated by the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya.

One youth, identified as Attahiru Abubakar, was reportedly shot dead, while several others sustained serious injuries during the confrontation.

Witnesses said the violent episode began after armed Nigerian Army and police personnel stormed the village, reportedly acting on instructions linked to a land deal.

Multiple sources alleged that the incursion was led by the Managing Director of Grow Homes Estate Ltd, a certain Mr. Roland.

Mr. Roland allegedly arrived with a team of surveyors to continue work on a disputed land parcel, triggering resistance from residents.

According to community members, the land in question has been at the center of a long-standing ownership dispute.

Tensions originally flared on February 1, 2025, when surveyors escorted by armed military officers began measuring plots within the village.

The surveyors claimed the land had been allocated by the Bwari Area Council for a proposed mini-barracks project to house retired soldiers.

Residents insisted that only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister has the legal authority to allocate such lands.

A soft copy of the survey map bearing Bwari Area Council’s name was allegedly sent to the village head, Isiaka Dauda, earlier in the year.

The villagers believed the project was being carried out without proper documentation or community consultation.

Sources confirmed that during the August 2 return visit, Mr. Roland was intercepted by youths and taken to the chief’s palace for questioning.

It was at the palace that Mr. Roland reportedly called Chairman Gabaya, who then sent in armed security personnel to intervene.

Eyewitnesses said that on arrival, the combined team of soldiers and police opened fire on residents.

Attahiru Abubakar, a recently married young man, was killed on the spot.

Two other young men sustained gunshot wounds and were taken away by the security operatives.

The whereabouts of the injured remain unknown, and their families have yet to receive updates from the authorities.

An unspecified number of other residents were also arrested and are currently detained at the Police Area Command in Kubwa.

Community members accused Chairman Gabaya of using backdated land allocation documents to grab land for private real estate development.

They alleged that Gabaya works in collaboration with councillors, local chiefs, and security agencies to take over village lands in exchange for bribes.

Sources claimed that this corrupt scheme is the secret behind the chairman’s unexplained wealth and that of his council allies.

Kuchibuyi, a community known for supplying agricultural produce to Kubwa and beyond, has now become a hotbed of grief and resistance.

The controversy intensified after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike began construction of a road connecting the village to Bwari town through Kubwa.

Villagers fear that improved infrastructure is now being used as an excuse to displace them and seize ancestral land.

Some community leaders accuse powerful individuals of attempting to suppress the incident and prevent justice.

They say efforts are being made to bribe media houses and silence local voices calling for accountability.

There is still no official response from the Bwari Area Council regarding the incident or the status of the detained youths.

The police and military have also refused to issue a statement on the fatal shooting or the legality of their operation.

Calls for an independent investigation are growing louder among residents and human rights observers.

As of Sunday morning, the body of Attahiru Abubakar had not been returned to the family, sparking further outrage in the village.

Videos circulating on social media show villagers confronting the armed personnel during the raid.

Many are now demanding the resignation of Chairman John Gabaya and a full probe into land dealings within the council.

Community groups have vowed to take legal action and escalate the matter to the National Human Rights Commission.

As the dust settles in Kuchibuyi, fears of another round of violence remain, unless urgent steps are taken to restore justice and peace.

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