Residents of Angwa Dio and Angwa Shibaba communities face possible demolition as Army reportedly cites “orders from above”
Residents of Angwa Dio and Angwa Shibaba communities in Tungamaje, Abuja, have been ordered to vacate their homes by Wednesday, August 12, 2026, amid a renewed land dispute involving the communities and the Nigerian Army.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, several houses in the affected areas have been marked for demolition, with residents alleging that they were directed to leave the communities following an order reportedly issued by the Nigerian Army.
The residents were initially given until Saturday, August 8, to vacate the area. However, following intervention by community stakeholders, the deadline was reportedly extended by five days to Wednesday.
A community source told SaharaReporters that more than 30 houses have been earmarked for demolition across Angwa Dio and Angwa Shibaba.
Residents reportedly pleaded for additional time, but were allegedly told that the directive was “from above” and could not be changed.
The development has reportedly caused panic among affected families, many of whom are uncertain about where they would relocate if the demolition proceeds.
The latest eviction threat is part of a longstanding dispute between Tungamaje residents and the Nigerian Army over land ownership and access to farmlands. Residents have previously accused some Army personnel of forcibly taking over ancestral lands and allegedly preventing locals from accessing areas they depend on for farming.
SaharaReporters also reported that similar tensions had occurred in 2025, when residents were reportedly ordered to vacate their homes ahead of an alleged demolition exercise. Earlier, in April 2025, parts of a community workshop centre were reportedly demolished, with nearby residents allegedly ordered to leave.
Residents have appealed to relevant authorities to urgently intervene, halt any further displacement and establish a lasting resolution to the land ownership dispute.
As of the time of the report, efforts by SaharaReporters to obtain the Nigerian Army’s response were unsuccessful, as the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, reportedly did not respond to calls and text messages seeking clarification.
