Kuchibuyi, Abuja – The peaceful Kuchibuyi community in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory was thrown into mourning on Saturday, August 3, after Attahiru Abubakar, son of the community’s Chief Imam, Abubakar Yaqub, was reportedly shot dead by police officers during a land dispute.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage among residents, with eyewitnesses and family members accusing the police of using excessive force and attempting to cover up the killing.
Attahiru died on the spot from a gunshot wound to the chest, while his elder brother, Abass, sustained serious injuries.
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Punch reported that Abass is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Their father, the Chief Imam himself, was also allegedly shot during the chaos.
Police respond to ‘civil unrest’ in Kuchibuyi
In a statement released on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, said officers were responding to a distress call over a communal clash tied to a land dispute in the area. “The FCT Police Command received a distress call regarding a civil unrest incident stemming from a land dispute at Kuchibuyi community under Byazin Division,” Adeh said.
She added that Divisional Police Officers from both Byazin and Kubwa divisions had mobilised quickly to the scene and brought the situation under control. Several arrests were made, and investigations are ongoing. Adeh, however, maintained that the police were not the cause of the conflict. “It is important to clarify that the issue is a communal dispute and not in any way related to the police,” she said.
Quoting the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, she stated: “The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns the actions of youths attacking police officers who were on a mission to restore law and order. Such behaviour will not be condoned, and firm action will be taken against anyone who attacks police or other security personnel responding to distress calls.”
Family accuses police of protecting land grabbers But residents have rejected the police version of events. Speaking, Sanusi Abubakar, the elder brother of the deceased, said the police opened fire on unarmed residents after an estate manager brought in armed personnel to seize community land, as reported by Leadership.
“There was one estate manager who wanted to take over a large portion of the community land without our knowledge. He arrived with some soldiers and vigilantes. Later, he called the police,” Sanusi explained. He added: “After some boys blocked the road during the standoff, and it was seemingly resolved, police officers and the task force returned and started shooting at residents. My brother, Attahiru, was shot dead on the spot. My second brother, Abass, was also hit and is in the hospital. Our father, the Chief Imam, was also shot.”
