A concerned resident of the Gwagwalada Area Council in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has publicly voiced frustration over the continuous assaults by suspected herdsmen on rural communities within the council.
In a strongly worded open letter, Sani Usman Zakariyya highlighted the rising insecurity in areas such as Paiko, Ibwa, Dobi, and surrounding wards, accusing the Nigerian authorities of failing to act despite the ongoing violence.
Zakariyya expressed dismay at the consistent neglect, stating that residents have endured years of brutal attacks, particularly targeting indigenous farmers. He noted that these killings often occur right on farmlands and even within homes, leaving communities devastated and afraid.
“For years, as someone who has lived in Gwagwalada, I’ve seen Fulani herdsmen carry out heinous acts against indigenous farmers—slaughtering them on their own lands and in their homes, without provocation, in their ancestral territory,” he wrote.
He further described how the frequency of these violent incidents has grown, especially in rural zones of the council. According to Zakariyya, despite the surge in attacks, nothing has been done to curtail the bloodshed or protect the original inhabitants who, as he emphasized, have no other home besides Gwagwalada.
Zakariyya also criticized political leaders whom he accused of being silent and complicit, suggesting that some have prioritized personal political interests over the lives and safety of the people they represent.
“There have been numerous attacks across FCT lands, but the people are left powerless—unable to speak up or defend themselves—as many of their leaders appear to have been politically compromised. They’ve traded the welfare of our land for personal gain,” he lamented.
Calling for urgent intervention, Zakariyya appealed to top government officials to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice.
“I implore the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON, GSSRS), and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently initiate an impartial investigation into the relentless attacks on indigenous residents of our council. Those behind these atrocities must be held accountable, without fear or favour,” he wrote.
He concluded with a passionate plea for an end to the bloodshed, emphasizing that the sanctity of human life should outweigh all other considerations.
“This violence must not be allowed to persist under any guise. The lives of our people are more precious than anyone’s personal ambition,” he added.
Zakariyya also called for increased security in the affected regions and demanded justice for the victims who have suffered under the weight of these repeated assaults.
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