A violent confrontation between Fulani and Gwari residents in Gurfata village, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has left one person dead and at least 31 houses destroyed. The clash, which occurred on Tuesday, was reportedly triggered by a disagreement between a Fulani man, Shaibu Adamu, and a Gwari farmer, Sa’adu, over access through a farmland path.
According to security consultant and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the dispute began around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday when Adamu attempted to walk through Sa’adu’s farmland without being cattle, which the farmer objected to, leading to an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. Both men sustained minor injuries, but the situation quickly spiralled out of control, reigniting ethnic tensions in the village.
The situation worsened when Adamu Ibrahim, elder brother to Shaibu, allegedly attacked a Gwari resident, Dahiru Yakubu, with a machete. Yakubu was rushed to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The news of his death sparked a reprisal attack by enraged Gwari youths, who descended on the Fulani settlement in Gurfata, burning down 31 houses and injuring at least three individuals.
The Nigerian Army and other joint security personnel were later deployed to the area to halt the violence and restore calm. Authorities have appealed for peace and urged both communities to exercise restraint. Efforts are ongoing to mediate between the groups and prevent further escalation. As of Wednesday, normalcy had returned to the village, though tensions remain high.
The incident highlights the need for continued efforts to promote peaceful coexistence between different communities in the FCT. The authorities’ prompt response in deploying security personnel to the area helped to prevent further violence, but more work needs to be done to address the underlying issues that led to the clash.
