Land tussle: Iddo community cries out over alleged Navy encroachment

By USman Shuaibu

Tensions are simmering in the Iddo community of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) as local leaders accuse the Nigerian Navy of “land grabbing” and the demolition of ancestral homes without legal recourse.
​Alhaji Dahiru Haruna, a prominent community elder, issued a stern warning on Saturday, urging naval authorities to halt further expansion into local farmlands.
Speaking to reporters, Haruna characterized the purported Navy’s actions as an abuse of power, alleging that land is being seized and structures leveled without any form of compensation or adherence to due process.
​The community’s outcry centers on three primary allegations: unlawful encroachment through systematic takeover of agricultural land vital to the community’s livelihood, destruction of residential buildings leaving families displaced and a complete absence of compensation or official dialogue prior to the deployment of heavy machinery.
​Despite the escalating friction, Haruna maintained that the people of Iddo remain committed to peace.
However, he emphasized that their patience is being tested by the perceived “might is right” approach of the military.
​“We are law-abiding citizens and we do not want a confrontation with the government.
“But we cannot watch our heritage be destroyed. We are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to call the Nigerian Navy to order,” Haruna stated.
​The Iddo community is now looking toward the FCT Administration and the Presidency to mediate the dispute.
The residents’ message is clear: while they respect federal authority, that respect must be mutual, starting with the protection of their property rights and the cessation of unauthorized demolitions.
​As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Navy has yet to issue an official statement regarding the specific boundaries of their operations in the Iddo axis.