Police Clash With Abuja Community Over Land Dispute, Command Denies Involvement

A clash broke out between operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and residents of Kuchibyi Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Friday, following a land dispute that triggered unrest in the area.

Viral videos circulating on social media captured chaotic scenes as angry community members blocked police patrol vehicles from entering the village. The residents, wielding sticks and other makeshift weapons, could be heard shouting at the officers to vacate their land, accusing them of siding with one of the parties involved in the land tussle.

However, the FCT Police Command has denied involvement in the dispute, insisting that its operatives were only deployed to the area in response to a distress call.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the police said the unrest was a civil matter that had escalated and posed a threat to public safety.

“The police received a distress call regarding a civil unrest incident stemming from a land dispute at Kuchibyi Community under the Byazin Division,” Adeh said. “The Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Byazin and Kubwa swiftly mobilised to the scene and brought the situation under control. Arrests have been made, and investigation is currently ongoing.”

The police emphasized that their role was solely to maintain peace and order, and not to take sides in the conflict.

In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao Adewale, condemned the attack on police officers, warning that any act of violence against law enforcement personnel would not be tolerated.

He described the assault on police operatives as unfortunate and unlawful, stressing that officers were only carrying out their constitutional duty of restoring law and order.

“The Command urges the youth to be law-abiding, desist from acts capable of breaching the peace or inciting violence, and remain dependable allies in the overall security of the FCT,” the CP stated.

He assured residents of the command’s commitment to maintaining public safety across all communities in the capital territory, while also reiterating that any attempt to obstruct or attack security operatives in the course of duty would be met with firm action.

The situation in Kuchibyi Community has since been brought under control, but tensions remain high as investigations continue into the root cause of the dispute.