At least one person has been killed, several others injured, and more than 30 homes destroyed in an outbreak of ethnic violence between Fulani and Gwari communities in Gurfata village, Gwagwalada Area Council of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The incident, which took place on Tuesday, reportedly began as a dispute over access to a farmland footpath between a Fulani herder, Shaibu Adamu, and a Gwari farmer identified as Sa’adu. The disagreement escalated when Adamu’s elder brother, Adamu Ibrahim, allegedly attacked a Gwari resident, Dahiru Yakubu, with a machete during the altercation.
Yakubu later succumbed to his injuries at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
News of Yakubu’s death sparked a reprisal attack by Gwari youths, who reportedly set fire to 31 houses in a Fulani settlement and injured at least three residents.
Security forces, including military personnel, were later deployed to the village to contain the violence and restore calm. While officials have confirmed that peace has been restored, local tensions remain high.
Authorities have appealed to both communities to remain calm and promised continued dialogue to prevent a resurgence of hostilities.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has yet to comment on the incident. Attempts to reach the FCT police spokesperson, Superintendent Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
