The Kebbi State Government has accused the African Democratic Congress of politicising a private land dispute in Birnin Kebbi, alleging that the opposition party is spreading misinformation to score political points.
The government said investigations by the state Ministry of Lands and Housing established that the disputed property, located along Sani Abacha Bypass, belonged to a private businessman, Alhaji Umar Muhammad Gulumbe.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, stated this during a press conference, while dismissing allegations that the state government deployed earth-moving equipment to demolish a building belonging to the ADC.
Ahmed said the controversy followed the demolition of a building on the disputed property on November 26, which attracted public attention after videos of the incident circulated on social media.
He maintained that the incident was a private disagreement between individuals and had nothing to do with the state government.
According to him, Gulumbe presented documents to establish his ownership of the property, including a Certificate of Occupancy reportedly signed by a former governor of the state, Senator Adamu Aliero.
The commissioner disclosed that the businessman had reported the alleged trespass to the police and also submitted a petition to the Ministry of Lands and Housing, prompting an investigation.
Ahmed insisted that the government had no prior involvement in the demolition, adding that disputes over land ownership should be resolved through appropriate legal channels.
He challenged anyone claiming ownership of the property to present relevant documents before a competent court rather than resorting to social media allegations.
The commissioner also urged political actors to exercise restraint in their public statements, warning that the circulation of unverified information could heighten political tension and threaten peaceful coexistence in the state.
The government further accused the ADC of misrepresenting previous security incidents in Kebbi for political purposes.
However, the competing claims surrounding the disputed property and the circumstances of the demolition have yet to be independently established. Any unresolved ownership dispute remains subject to determination by the appropriate authorities.
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