Court Bars State Security Service, Bauchi Govt From Disputed Land

A Bauchi State High Court has restrained the State Security Service (SSS) and the Bauchi State Government from further entering a disputed parcel of land located in Firo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

Justice Aliyu Bin Idris granted the order on Monday after hearing an ex-parte motion filed by Barr. Abdullatif Gwani Isa in suit No. BA/251/2026 on behalf of three landowners — Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, Ishaq Mohammed Kobi, and Murtala Isma’il.

The defendants in the suit include the Bauchi State Ministry of Lands and Survey, the Attorney General of Bauchi State, and the State Security Service, Bauchi State Command Headquarters.

The plaintiffs’ counsel told the court that his clients are the lawful owners of the vast land in Firo, having acquired it through legitimate purchases and allocations from the Ganjuwa Local Government Authority.

He said the claimants had exercised uninterrupted ownership and possession of the land, including farming and plot demarcation for sale, until the alleged encroachment began.

According to him, parts of the land were previously acquired in 2020 by the Ministry of Lands for the establishment of an SSS training facility, but said the acquisition did not cover the disputed area.

He further stated that in 2024, the State Security Service indicated interest in acquiring an additional 208 plots from one of the claimants, but no formal agreement was reached.

The lawyer alleged that despite this, officials of the State Security Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, later entered the land without lawful acquisition, notice, or compensation, and began mounting beacons and demarcating the area.

He also alleged that State Security Service agents issued threats warning residents against accessing the land, describing the actions as an attempt to unlawfully take over the property.

The court, after listening to submissions, ordered the defendants to stop further entry, demarcation, or interference with the land pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Justice Idris adjourned the matter to June 18, 2026, for further hearing.