…As Community Frights Over Feared Terror
…Dismisses Rumours of Killed Vigilantee
By Ikenwa Charity
Hakimin Galadimawa, HRH Musa Barde, has appealed for calm following violent clashes between local vigilante members and Hausa scavengers, popularly known as Babambola, which threw the community into chaos on Monday morning.
This comes on the heels of destruction of the Galadimawa Community Health Centre, and battered of a Vigilantee member by suspected Scavangers at the wee hours of this morning, infuriating the youths to mass protest, which led to the burning of motorcycles and a forceful shutdown of businesses Monday morning while residents took to their heels to protect themselves from fatalities.
Speaking on the mayhem, the traditional ruler said the crisis stemmed from the arrest of some scavengers by the Galadimawa Vigilante group in the early hours of Saturday.
He said, “I was informed that some scavengers were apprehended around 2am and detained by the vigilante. When the matter was reported to me, I immediately contacted the chairman of the vigilante and leaders of the Hausa community to understand what transpired,” .
According to him, he advised that scavenging activities should be restricted to designated sites and not carried out within residential areas, especially at night.
“Galadimawa is a fast-growing community and does not need activities at odd hours. There is no legitimate business that should be running at 3am. Anyone found roaming around at that hour raises serious security concerns,” he added.
He dismissed as false the rumors circulating that people were killed.
The monarch further disclosed that there is a standing directive from the FCT Minister restricting scavengers to construction sites and prohibiting them from operating within communities due to repeated cases of vandalism and theft.
“I woke up to several distress calls about widespread violence. I cannot immediately confirm everything that happened overnight, but unfortunately, the community health centre was destroyed in an attempt to forcefully release the detained scavengers,” he said.
HRH Barde said the police have been informed and investigations are ongoing, stressing that peace must return to the area.
“I have called on everyone to remain calm and allow the security agencies to do their job. All forms of violence must stop,” he stated.
He also announced plans to convene an emergency congress meeting involving both indigenes and non-indigenes of Galadimawa to address pressing security concerns.
“Scavengers must return to the sites where they are permitted to operate. Galadimawa will not tolerate lawlessness,” the Akimi warned.
Speaking to Portfolio Media, the Assistant Chief Madaki of Galadimawa, Mr John Bango, described the incident as a serious security breach and called for collective responsibility.
“Community security is everybody’s business and must be taken seriously. This is not the first time we are witnessing such violence in Galadimawa,” he said.
Mr Bango explained that the local vigilante group was established due to recurring security challenges in the area.
“Our vigilante apprehended some scavengers between 2am and 3am with suspicious exhibits. These individuals are known to move around with weapons,” he alleged.
According to him, the leaders of the scavengers later reported the matter to the district head, who reportedly rebuked them and issued a stern warning after the exhibits were confirmed.
However, tensions escalated on Monday morning.
“Shockingly, the scavengers attacked our vigilante members. One of them was brutally beaten and left unconscious. He is currently hospitalised after losing a lot of blood,” Bango said.
He added that the assault sparked outrage among Galadimawa youths, who took to the streets in protest.
“How can outsiders come into our community, destroy our health centre, and nearly kill our security personnel?” he queried.
The Madaki recalled that the community had banned commercial motorcycle operations on February 3, 2025, due to rising violence.
“An argument of ₦50 has cost lives here. The level of brutality associated with some okada riders is alarming,” he said.
He cited previous attacks allegedly linked to scavengers and motorcycle riders, including assaults on residents last year and in December.
“One victim is now living with severe injuries, including near loss of an eye. These incidents cannot continue,” he lamented.
He added that the community has resolved to tighten internal security.
“Anyone without a legitimate job or business has no reason to live in this community .
No one is permitted to loiter or sleep outside houses in this community. We will no longer tolerate joblessness and insecurity,” he said.
A security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the police received information alleging that the vigilante demanded money to release the detained scavengers.
“The leaders were advised to wait for police intervention, but the scavengers took the law into their own hands, forcefully trying to release their members. In the process, the health centre was vandalised and a vigilante member was attacked,” the officer said.
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy has been restored, with residents reopening shops.
Attempts to speak with the Galadimawa Divisional Police Officer, Barr. A.N. Liman, were unsuccessful, as he was seen on the ground coordinating officers to restore order.
Galadimawa is a rapidly growing suburban community located in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Originally a quiet agrarian settlement inhabited mainly by indigenous Gbagyi people, the village has over the years transformed into a densely populated area due to Abuja’s urban expansion and its proximity to major districts such as Apo, Gudu and Lokogoma.
The area is known for its mix of traditional village lifestyle and modern residential estates, hosting civil servants, traders, artisans and young entrepreneurs.
Despite its development and economic activities, the community has continued to grapple with challenges linked to urbanisation, including security concerns, youth unemployment and environmental management, issues that have increasingly drawn the attention of residents and authorities alike.
Though, men of the police force dowsed the tension after much teargasing and coordination of the muse, however, attempts to reach the Hausawa community leader and the vigilante authorities have proven abortive as at the time of this report.
Applauding the Nigerian Police Force for their timely intervention and salvaging of the situation, the residents also stated that this is a clarion call to beef up security around the area in order to avert more violence.
End.
