Attahiru Abubakar, the son of Abubakar Yakub, Chief Imam of the Kuchibuyi village in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, was allegedly shot dead by police personnel during a land dispute in the area last Saturday.
It was gathered that Attahiru died instantaneously after being struck by a police bullet, while his elder brother, Abass, suffered gunshot wounds and is presently battling for his life in a hospital.
In a statement made on Saturday, FCT Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh indicated that the officers were reacting to a civil disturbance in the region.
According to her, “The FCT Police Command received a distress call regarding a civil unrest incident stemming from a land dispute at Kuchibuyi community under Byazin Division.
“The Divisional Police Officers of Byazin and Kubwa swiftly mobilised to the scene and brought the situation under control. Arrests have been made, and the investigation is currently ongoing.”
Adeh emphasised that the conflict was not instigated by the police, saying, “It is important to clarify that the issue is a communal dispute and not in any way related to the police.”
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The police PRO also quoted the Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, as saying, “The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns the actions of youths attacking police officers who were on a mission to restore law and order.
“Such behaviour will not be condoned, and firm action will be taken against anyone who attacks police or other security personnel responding to distress calls.”
However, members of the Kuchibuyi community have rejected the police account, claiming that the incident involved indiscriminate shooting by the officers that resulted in the fatality and injuries, which the official statement failed to acknowledge.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Attahiru’s brother, Sanusi Abubakar, said their father, the Chief Imam, was also shot during the incident.
He alleged that the police were acting on the orders of an estate manager attempting to forcibly grab community land.
He said, “There was one estate manager who wanted to take over a large portion of the community land without our knowledge. He arrived with some soldiers and vigilantes.
“Later, he called the police. After some boys blocked the road during the standoff, and it was seemingly resolved, police officers and the task force returned and started shooting at residents.
“My brother, Attahiru, was shot dead on the spot. My second brother, Abass, was also hit and is in the hospital. Our father, the Chief Imam, was also shot.”
A resident who witnessed the incident but spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation corroborated Sanusi’s account in a chat with reporters on Sunday.
“The police lied in their statement. They didn’t mention that three people were shot—two sons of the Chief Imam and the Imam himself. Attahiru died instantly from a gunshot to the chest, while his brother is in the hospital in Bwari.
“After that, the police arrested about six young men they saw on sight. What happened yesterday (Saturday) was frightening, and they’re trying to cover it up. That same estate manager brought soldiers to the community just two days earlier.”
Photos seen showed Attahiru’s lifeless body with a gunshot wound in the upper left chest, and another image displayed his body wrapped in cloth after the incident.
