Residents of Jaji and surrounding communities in Kaduna State have raised alarm over renewed actions by personnel of the Nigerian Army, alleging unlawful demolitions, harassment of women, and the detention of dozens of locals in the Igabi Local Government Area.
According to eyewitness accounts and legal representatives, soldiers returned to the area late last week and flattened several homes in Ungwan Yohanna, Ungwan Aboki, Sabon Ungwan Loya, Ungwan Railway, and Ungwan Alhassan—despite a standing court order restraining further demolition activities. The exercise reportedly left scores of residents homeless and traumatized.
Community lawyer, Mr. Kimi Appah, condemned the actions as a blatant disregard for judicial authority. “These demolitions and arrests are not only unlawful but represent a disturbing pattern of intimidation and land seizure without due process,” he stated, urging the federal government and military leadership to intervene.
The dispute stems from a long-standing conflict over land rights between the communities and the Jaji Military Cantonment. Residents claim the army’s perimeter fencing encroaches on ancestral lands and farmlands, and that no compensation or legal recourse has been provided.
In response, the Nigerian Army denied targeting residential structures, stating that recent operations were aimed at dismantling drug cartels and arresting suspected dealers in the area. Captain Olusegun Abidoye, spokesperson for the cantonment, emphasized that the army’s actions were based on intelligence reports and aimed at curbing social vices and ensuring safety around military training zones.