The Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Kasim Mohammed, has called for calm following the escalating communal violence between Gwari and Fulani communities in Paiko, directing the Area Council Security Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the conflict and submit a comprehensive report within the week.
The chairman’s intervention comes amid disturbing reports of deaths, severe injuries, burning houses and alleged abductions as tensions between members of the two communities reportedly intensified in Paiko, within Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Earlier reports from the community indicated that at least one Fulani person had been killed during the confrontation, while several others were feared injured. However, subsequent accounts emerging from the area suggested that the violence had escalated, with claims that more than five Fulani people had died. The reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.
There have also been alarming claims of houses being set ablaze during the violence, raising further concerns about the safety of residents and the possibility of the confrontation spreading beyond the immediate area of the initial clash.
In another disturbing development, allegations have emerged that some members of the Gwari community were abducted amid the escalating violence. Accounts from the area reportedly attributed the alleged abductions to Fulani men, but the number of people said to have been taken, their identities and their whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
A separate report also claimed that a doctor who had visited a friend in the area was killed during the violence. Details surrounding the reported death have yet to be independently established.
The conflict has also reportedly left residents with serious injuries. An account accompanied by a photograph described a man of Gwari descent as having sustained a deep and extensive machete wound to his arm. Although the image reportedly showed the severity of the injury, the identity of the assailant and the circumstances surrounding the attack could not be independently verified.
Earlier accounts of the confrontation also indicated that military personnel moved into Paiko Market and chased people away from the area. There were claims that security personnel had the body of a deceased person, although the circumstances surrounding the reported incident and the military’s precise role have not been independently established.
Against this backdrop, Kasim has appealed to all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law and refrain from actions capable of worsening tensions or threatening the lives and property of residents.
In a statement issued by Muhammad Isah Hassan, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Gwagwalada Area Council, the chairman emphasised the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding and respect for the law in resolving disputes and maintaining peaceful coexistence among communities.
As part of his administration’s response, Kasim directed the Gwagwalada Area Council Security Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, establish its causes, assess the extent of damage and submit a comprehensive report to him within the week for appropriate action.
The committee’s assignment is expected to provide the council with a clearer understanding of what triggered the violence and the extent of its consequences.
Kasim reiterated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, insisting that disputes capable of threatening peace must be addressed through lawful and established channels.
He further appealed to community leaders, farmers, herders, youth groups and other stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies and refrain from taking the law into their own hands while investigations are ongoing.
The chairman assured residents that the matter would receive the necessary attention, urging all communities in Gwagwalada to remain peaceful, law-abiding and committed to preserving unity.
However, the statement announcing the investigation did not disclose the confirmed casualty figures, identify those allegedly abducted or provide details about the reported destruction of property.
With conflicting accounts and serious allegations continuing to emerge from Paiko, the findings of the security committee’s investigation will be crucial in establishing the circumstances surrounding the violence, determining the extent of the damage and identifying appropriate steps to prevent further bloodshed.
ChroniclesReporters could not independently verify the reported casualty figures, alleged abductions, house burnings or other claims surrounding the confrontation at the time of reporting.