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Jaji land dispute: Army says compromise on cantonment boundaries could undermine national defence architecture

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Jaji land dispute: Army says compromise on cantonment boundaries could undermine national defence architecture

By: Zagazola Makama

The sprawling Jaji Military Cantonment in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State has for decades been one of the most important defence institutions in Nigeria. It houses the Infantry Corps Centre (ICC) and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) both pivotal to training officers of the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces.

But in recent years, the facility has become the centre of a bitter land dispute involving surrounding communities such as Labar Wusono, Hayin Mallam Auta, Ungwan Yahanna, Ungwan Aboki, Ungwan Railway, Ungwan Alhassan, and Ungwan Loya.

The communities have petitioned authorities, accusing the military of land grabbing, displacement, disconnection of electricity, demolition of homes, and disruption of their livelihoods. Several suits are currently pending before the High Court of Kaduna State and the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division.

The Army, however, insists that its actions are lawful, necessary, and in line with constitutional responsibilities to safeguard critical military installations, maintain national security, and protect lives within and outside the cantonment.

How encroachment started

Most of Nigeria’s cantonments were built in the 1960s and 1970s when cities were relatively small. Land reserves were deliberately left around them as buffer zones for military training, firing ranges, and security purposes.

However, rapid population growth, urban sprawl, poor enforcement of zoning regulations, and alleged connivance of land officials created loopholes. Over time, civilian houses, shops, schools, and even worship centres started springing up in spaces originally earmarked for military use.

In some instances, unscrupulous traditional rulers and community leaders reportedly sold parcels of land within military reserve areas, ignoring the fact that such lands had been gazetted for security purposes.

Land ownership and litigations

At the heart of the dispute is whether the contested villages and farmlands fall within the 3,333.23 hectares of land acquired and allocated to the Nigerian Army by the Federal Government of Nigeria, with compensation for land economic trees and buildings on the site acquired by NASI duly paid from 1984 up to 1987 and subsequent years.

Despite these military records, it is still defending multiple suits, including: SUIT NO: KDH/KAD/328/2018 filed by Alhaji Saminu and 266 others against the Army, in which claimants insist on ownership of six communities within the cantonment. SUIT NO: KDH/KAD/629/2023, in which Hon. Bashir Idris Aliyu claims ownership of over 61 hectares in Labar Village. SUIT NO: FHC/KD/CS/74/2025, a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Alh. Idris Hassan and six others against the Chief of Defence Staff and others, alleging harassment and rights violations.

The Army maintains that since these matters are sub judice, it has carefully abided by all subsisting court orders, including injunctions requiring both parties to maintain status quo. Beyond the legal battles, the Army says its core concern is the grave security risk posed by unchecked encroachment. The Jaji Cantonment, it argues, is not just another barracks, it is a strategic tri-service training centre hosting sensitive operational facilities. Its porous flanks have, however, enabled criminal elements including Boko Haram and bandits to penetrate and compromise security.

Security Breaches by Terrorists in Jaji Cantonment

To back this, the army cites a disturbing history of security breaches: November 25, 2012: Terrorists attacked the Jaji Military Cantonment using multiple suicide bombers, resulting in significant loss of life, severe IED-induced injuries, and destruction of military equipment and properties. In 2001, a senior officer, Commander Ogunlana, was brutally murdered within Majors’ Quarters by individuals traced to one of the encroaching communities. On 24 June 2021, bandits invaded the cantonment’s ranch, stealing cattle under the Army’s Investment Initiative Programme. On 23 August 2021, Lt. L.O. Ogunleti was killed at his residence within Officers’ Quarters. March 1, 2022: Terrorists killed almost 70 people in the Jaji general area in Kerawa. Again, terrorists ambush Army troops in Jura where soldiers were killed. There have also been recurring cases of theft, assaults, and vandalism incidents, the Army attributes to unrestricted civilian access through the exposed boundaries. Just recently, a mop Operation carried out by NDELA within the encroached communities led to the arrest of over 30 drug dealers and recoveries of large quantities of hard drugs and psychotropic substances. It was discovered after further findings based on Intelligence that the three top drug barons supplying drugs to Kaduna city and Zaria lives inside Jaji cantonment, making it difficult for the NDLEA or the police to carry out any arrest. Additionally, there have been: Killing of military personnel linked to banditry and other crimes. There was also several threats by terrorists to infiltrate and attack the Jaji Military Cantonment,which houses various formations, including: Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Infantry Corps Center, Nigerian Army Infantry School, Nigerian Army Warrant Officers Academy and the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Center. This is aside a fighting troops against terrorists and bandits operating from Jaji Military Cantonment referred to as Demonstration Battalion to students but because of the threats of terrorists and bandits and infiltration via these illegal squatters on the Cantonment, they were given additional role of Internal Security in the general area.

“These breaches confirm the existential danger of leaving the cantonment exposed. Fencing and regulated access were not arbitrary decisions; they were measures to safeguard personnel, residents, and critical military assets,” a senior officer at ICC said.

In response to repeated security incidents, the Army embarked on the fencing of the cantonment. According to documents reviewed by Zagazola team, the project was preceded by consultations with the host communities, culminating in agreements that gates would be installed to allow access to farmlands and settlements. Military authorities maintain that the fence does not deny the communities access, nor does it contravene any court order. Instead, it is designed to channel movement through controlled entry points, enhancing surveillance and preventing criminal infiltration. But unfortunately, the civilian settlers continue to destroy the fences and sneaked in through the backs channels.

Furthermore, the Army insists it has respected the 2018, 2019 and 2021 court orders directing both parties to maintain status quo, even as it accuses some claimants of breaching the same orders by embarking on new constructions and illegal mining activities. In one instance, the Army alleged that some community leaders, acting in connivance with a Chinese construction company, CCECC Nigeria Limited, illegally authorised excavation of laterite soil inside the cantonment, receiving over ₦85 million in payment, despite lacking legal ownership rights. This fraudulent activities was carried out with the connivance of a former Commisioner of the Kaduna State Government. The Army has since sought an interlocutory injunction to restrain further mining.

Relocation of markets and electricity disputes

Another point of friction has been the closure of informal markets within the cantonment. The Army explained that this was a deliberate security measure advised by intelligence reports warning of terrorist plots against military installations in Kaduna. Shop owners and traders, including those from affected communities, were relocated to the designated Mammy Market, with palliatives such as food items distributed to cushion the effect. On the allegation of power disconnection, the Army said investigations revealed widespread illegal connections from the cantonment’s electricity supply, which disrupted power to official facilities and affected military operations. The responsibility, it argues, lies with appropriate civil agencies to regularise the communities’ supply rather than allowing continued illegal tapping from military lines.

Military’s justification

Military officials stress that their actions are consistent with the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and internal security. The Jaji Cantonment is a critical training ground for the Armed Forces. Leaving it vulnerable to encroachment, illegal settlements, and criminal infiltration is not just a military issue it is a national security risk. “The danger is twofold: first, it weakens military training and readiness, and second, it creates vulnerabilities that hostile groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits and other criminals can exploit.”an Infantry Corps official said.
“When civilian settlements are inside the barracks, troops are forced to limit live firing exercises or suspend some forms of training altogether. This reduces combat preparedness, especially for soldiers fighting insurgency. Even more dangerous is the risk of infiltration. Terrorists, bandits or saboteurs can blend in with civilian communities gather intelligence on troop movements, training or stage surprise attacks. Even when we are training, you will see the people of the communities taken our photos and videos. “You cannot run an effective counterinsurgency when the enemy can set up surveillance points just inside your cantonment because civilians have encroached on the land.”said the infantry corps official.

The Army also insists that contrary to allegations of rights abuses, it has exercised restraint, relying on legal processes and refraining from forceful evictions while awaiting court rulings. “Those who abuse this order are the communities, because even as the court has given stay of execution, the residents continue biulding houses and expanding the communities with impunity.

Strain on civil–military relations

Encroachment has also strained relations between the military and host communities. Whenever the Army attempts to demolish illegal structures or reclaim land, it often sparks protests and accusations of insensitivity. They have strong backing of politicians and some elements within the Kaduna State government. This was why the government of Kaduna refused to respond, despite promises they made and assurances that the communities will be relocated to another settlement.

Civil rights advocates argue that some civilians encroached unknowingly, having bought land from individuals who presented forged documents. Others knowingly took the risk, hoping that urbanisation would eventually legitimise their claims. But the military insists the law is clear: lands legally gazetted for security purposes remain under the ownership of the Federal Government, and no civilian sale or allocation can override that. “You will hear them saying in the news that these communities are situated in “Igabi along Zaria-Kaduna road”. But no one will tell you that they are laboring in the middle of the cantonment.

The road ahead

With multiple cases still in court, the matter is far from resolved. The dispute pointed to the wider problem of encroachment on military lands across the country, a development that threatens both community safety and national defence readiness.

The Military high command have repeatedly stressed that safeguarding cantonments is not negotiable. In a statement earlier this year, The Army said it will continue to protect its land and installations from encroachment. We owe it to the nation to preserve our operational readiness and secure our assets. The balance we seek is between security and civil co-existence. But the security of our nation and its Armed Forces must remain paramount,” said Army top Command

For now, the Army is adopting a twin-track approach: engagement with communities on one hand, and firm enforcement of land rights on the other. But the message from military authorities is clear cantonments are not just lands, they are strategic assets tied directly to the survival and sovereignty of Nigeria

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Counter Insurgency Expert in the Lake Chad Region.
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Otuaro Hails Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation Boss On Conferment With Honorary Doctorate Degree

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December 13, 2025

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Otuaro Hails Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation Boss On Conferment With Honorary Doctorate Degree

By: Michael Mike

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has congratulated the Founder of Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation, Mrs Esther Tonlagha, on her conferment with an Honorary Doctorate of Science (D.Sc) Degree in Community Development and Empowerment by the Federal University, Otuoke.

The honoree is the wife of Engr. Matthew Tonlagha, an accomplished Ijaw businessman with huge investments in oil and gas, and engineering solutions in various sectors.

She was presented with the award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to community development and empowerment, during the maiden combined convocation ceremonies of the university held on 8 December, 2025 at Otuoke in Bayelsa State.

Otuaro noted that the honour was a testament to Mrs Tonlagha’s unwavering commitment and dedication to community development and empowerment through her foundation.

He described Mrs Tonlagha as an amazon and a philanthropist with a large heart, whose selfless service to community and humanity resonates across the Niger Delta and beyond.

Otuaro described the honour as well-deserved as shown by her bold antecedents, and expressed the hope that it would motivate her to do more for society.

He said he is not surprised that Mrs Tonlagha, a devout Christian, has given due priority to the service of humanity.

The PAP Administrator also lauded the management of Federal University, Otuoke, for recognizing Mrs Tonlagha’s selfless service, life of sacrifice, remarkable achievements, and the commendable work of her foundation.

Otuaro Hails Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation Boss On Conferment With Honorary Doctorate Degree

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President Tinubu Unveils New Security, Economic Blueprint To Harness Nigeria’s Marine Wealth

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December 10, 2025

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President Tinubu Unveils New Security, Economic Blueprint To Harness Nigeria’s Marine Wealth

  • Directs NIPSS to conduct nationwide security diagnostic, targets port reform, maritime expansion

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a new security and economic framework aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast marine and aquatic resources under the blue economy as one of the country’s most critical sectors for national transformation.

Accordingly, he directed all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to immediately review and implement recommendations by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies’ (NIPSS) comprehensive study on blue economy development.

Speaking on Wednesday during a Presidential Parley with participants of Senior Executive Course 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Presidential Villa, the President, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the administration is committed to converting Nigeria’s maritime potential into a major driver of economic diversification, job creation and long-term prosperity.

“The blue economy offers a strategic pathway for diversifying our revenue base, creating sustainable employment and revitalising the ecosystems that sustain national development. If properly harnessed, this sector could become an anchor of shared prosperity for generations,” he said.

President Tinubu welcomed the findings of the NIPSS study on Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria, describing it as a timely resource that outlines the “opportunities we must seize, the challenges we must confront and the policies we must refine.”

He praised the institute for sustaining what he called its tradition of analytical rigour, creativity and patriotic duty.

The Nigerian leader noted that Nigeria’s marine endowments, including an 853-kilometre coastline, rich fisheries, extensive inland waterways and a strategic location within the Gulf of Guinea, place the country in a strong position to build new growth avenues.

He said the administration is prioritising aquaculture expansion, port and maritime corridor modernisation, coastal tourism, marine biotechnology and renewable ocean energy.

“These opportunities lie within our grasp if we act with discipline and intentionality,” he said.

Reaffirming his administration’s reform agenda, President Tinubu highlighted the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a critical step toward improving port management systems, strengthening maritime security operations and enabling private-sector growth.

He, however, acknowledged that more work lies ahead and directed all relevant ministries, departments and agencies to immediately study and prepare to implement the NIPSS recommendations.

The President stressed that economic ambitions in the blue economy cannot be realised without a safe and stable environment.

While piracy has reduced through the Deep Blue Project, he warned that oil theft, illegal fishing, smuggling, vandalism and kidnapping still undermine national revenues and investor confidence.

“These threats are real, and this Administration is taking decisive steps to address them,” he said.

President Tinubu also assigned NIPSS an expanded national security mandate, ordering the institute to conduct a nationwide security diagnostic and develop actionable recommendations to guide reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.

“The policy paper shall be submitted to my office within an agreed timeline, and it will receive the utmost attention,” he assured.

The Nigerian leader described NIPSS as the intellectual engine of our national transformation and urged the scholars to remain bold, solution-driven and rooted in the country’s realities.

Earlier, the Director-General of NPISS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, thanked President Tinubu for the support the institution has received, just as he appreciated the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, for providing funding for SEC 47.

He noted that the team visited several Nigerian states and 14 countries outside Nigeria, and were at the Presidential Villa to present their findings titled “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities.”

Highlighting the content of the report, Colonel Murkar Dauda said the Federal Government was already addressing systemic gaps in the blue economy, while commending the President for his visionary leadership in driving the economy.

Among other issues, the report noted challenges of governance, institutional coordination, and policy coherence, as well as the fact that available infrastructure falls below global standards.

The report further emphasized the opportunities available in Nigeria.

“Fisheries and aquaculture remain strong entry points for Nigeria,” the report added, advising that diversifying revenue sources will unlock new earnings for the country.

In its recommendations, the Federal Government was advised to launch a national fisheries expansion programme, leveraging public-private investments to increase fish production from the current 1.2 metric tonnes to 10 metric tonnes within two years.

The report also recommended expanding the revenue base of the marine and blue economy sector, while developing a comprehensive marine and blue economy financing framework.

Additionally, the report stressed that the Federal Government should review and harmonize all legal, policy, and institutional frameworks on the marine and blue economy; establish an innovative marine and blue economy skills, job creation, and social inclusion framework, as well as enhance the safety and security of inland water bodies, among others.

President Tinubu Unveils New Security, Economic Blueprint To Harness Nigeria’s Marine Wealth

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UN reaffirms support for Nigeria’s filmmaking to advance SDGs

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December 10, 2025

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UN reaffirms support for Nigeria’s filmmaking to advance SDGs

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Fall has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting filmmaking to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

Speaking at the third edition of the SDGs short film challenge and awards grand finale 2025 on Tuesday in Abuja, said the UN remains committed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria and the rest of the world

The event with the theme: “Film as a catalyst for sustainable development: reimagining the future we want through the screen” was organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs.

Fall said although the UN in Nigeria invested in talent and amplified voices, more needs to be done; saying policymakers. private sector and partners should invest in film stories to achieve SDGs.

He said: “A film story can change life, change Nigeria and not only Nigeria, but the world. To Bollywood, to Afrobeat, to all the sexism and all sorts of art and creation we stand at a turning point.

“ Less than five years remain to 2030 and this is time to attain the SDGs, yet the path we are today is not straight, inequality persists across the globe; Poverty remains, our climate crimes are under direct action and the world is waiting for us to step-up.”

He said the UN’s pathways designed to accelerate progress towards the SDG include; transforming food systems, transforming clean water and affordable energy, and bridging the digital divide for all.

Others are building resilience and sustainable cities, as well as protecting plants and biodiversities for generations to come.

He noted that: “Film is a mirror of our society, a voice for the voiceless, a spark for action, a short film can inspire, and provoke empathy. It can ignite debate, change policy and shift behaviours.

“Since the first edition in 2023, the SDG short film has grown from 73 entries in 2005 to 2,250 entries on 114 entries in 2024 and surged to 2,265 entries on 114 entries this year.

“This is the proof that the world is listening. They are calls to action. They remind us that when creativity meets purpose, change happens, film can inspire audiences to advocate for equality and justice.

“This is the essence of our challenge today. Creativity for action, art for transformation, story for sustainability. The UN in Nigeria stands with filmmakers. We invest in your talent. We amplify your voice. We support your journey.

“We cannot do it alone. policymakers, private-sector partners should also invest in films. Fund them and let them reach every corner of our society; through film we can turn ideas into action, dream into realities, and ensure we leave no one behind,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, said the way people tell stories either proffered solution or created problems in society.

Orelope-Adefulire said: “Today, we celebrate creativity, innovations and the power of young Nigerians to shape national conversation around sustainable development.

“The challenge was conceived to build platforms, to tell compelling stories that reflect collective aspirations under the 2030 agenda: the quality of entries demonstrated good understanding that our country is rich in talents.

“Your contribution highlighted the role of storytelling and creating awareness, influencing policy and mobilising communities toward accelerating SDGs.

“As we celebrate the winners, let us also reaffirm our commitment to building more inclusive, equitable and sustainable Nigeria, one where no one is left behind.”

For her part, Mrs Edesili Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Edo, commended the organisers for promoting the art of storytelling through filmmaking.

According to her, filmmakers demonstrated that cinema is not just entertainment, it is advocacy, education, mobilisation and ultimately a catalyst for transformative change.

“In adjusting it, we have embraced the same spirit of action and innovation as we work tirelessly to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

“While they tell the stories of our culture, our pride, our heritage through the lenses of their cameras. I encourage all filmmakers here today to continue using creative voices as a force for good.

“As we look to the future, let us remember that achieving the SDGs is not the responsibility of government alone, it requires the collective efforts of citizens, who refuse to give up on the idea of a better world,” Anani said.

On her part, the Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, stressed the need for telling good stories that could influence decision and attract investment for industrial growth.

She explained that such can inspire community development, create a movement or simply whisper to one person to know he or she is not alone and that things can get better.

“This is the power that you carry and that is also why I want to speak to the policy makers here today. The development partners, corporate leaders and philanthropists in this room.

“We all talk about investing in infrastructure, roads, power and technology, but we need to begin to talk just as much about investing in storytelling. If we want to truly accelerate the SDGs, we need filmmakers,” Atuwatse said.

UN reaffirms support for Nigeria’s filmmaking to advance SDGs

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