Tension in FCT as Police Arrest Five Suspects in Village Head’s Kidnapping; Allegations of Fulani Involvement Emerge

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is on edge following the abduction of the Village Head of Dagachi Hamlet, Yuda Garba, and five others in Ungwan Pawa Dnako Village along Igu Road. The attack, carried out by 15 armed assailants at around 6:30 AM on March 11, 2025, has sparked fears of escalating insecurity in rural communities.

In a swift response, a joint force of police officers, local hunters, and vigilantes was deployed to track down the perpetrators. Their efforts led to the arrest of five suspects—Abdullahi Idris, Tambaya Idris, Haruna Tukur, Umar U. Haruna, and Nasiru Haruna—raising further questions about the identities and motives of the kidnappers.

Controversy is now brewing over intelligence reports suggesting that the attack may be linked to recent land sales in the area and the arrival of suspected Fulani settlers. With ethnic tensions already simmering, these allegations have intensified debates over the role of migrating pastoral communities in the rising wave of kidnappings across Nigeria.

As security forces continue the manhunt for the remaining kidnappers and work to rescue the hostages, the incident has once again ignited concerns about the government’s ability to curb the growing threat of armed groups in rural settlements. The question remains: Is this a case of organized crime, or does it point to a deeper ethnic and land-related conflict?