Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Angwan Ninzom community in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have raised alarm over an alleged violent invasion by soldiers from the 177 Guards Battalion, saying several people were injured and properties destroyed during the operation on Monday, May 25, 2026. According to multiple accounts gathered from community members, armed personnel stormed the area in the midst of an ongoing land dispute between the community and the Nigerian Army, a matter that is still pending before a court of law. Eyewitnesses alleged that the soldiers forced their way into homes, and that women and children were among those affected as chaos and panic spread throughout the neighbourhood.
The incident, which residents say has left the community in a state of fear, occurred just 24 hours after an earlier confrontation involving troops attached to the same battalion. A separate incident on Sunday, May 24, 2026, saw a soldier from the 177 Guards Battalion shoot the Chief Security Officer of a popular hotel in Keffi during a night patrol. According to security sources cited by Platinum Post, the officer had allegedly slapped the soldier and attempted to seize his rifle, leading to a violent altercation that resulted in a gunshot wound. That incident, still under investigation, appeared to have heightened tensions in the area, though community members in Angwan Ninzom say the land dispute that triggered the invasion is unrelated to the hotel shooting.
Residents described scenes of distress as families fled for safety while soldiers carried out what they called an “unprovoked” operation. The community has since called on the Nasarawa State Government and federal authorities to intervene urgently, insisting that their safety can no longer be guaranteed if the situation continues unchecked. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, told Stone Reporters News that the soldiers arrived in the early hours of Monday morning and began breaking down doors, beating occupants and setting some buildings ablaze. “We have done nothing wrong. This land matter is already in court. Why must they resort to violence?” he asked.
The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official response to the allegations as of the time of filing this report. Community leaders have, however, expressed frustration over what they perceive as a pattern of military involvement in land disputes in the region, noting that similar incidents had occurred in other parts of Nasarawa State in previous years. Legal sources indicate that the case regarding the disputed land was still pending at the High Court, and residents are now demanding that the military respect the judicial process and cease further incursions into their community.
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