2.1.2. FCT Abuja

Table of contents

2.1.2. FCT Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja is comprised of the following six LGAs: Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari and Kwali.334

The main ethnic group in Abuja is Gbagyi (Gwari).335

UNFPA and the US Census Bureau projected the population at 3 067 457 in 2022, based on figures from the 2006 census.336

Conflict dynamics and main actors

For a general overview on actors in Nigeria, please see section 1.1 Main Actors.

The FCT was frequently affected by kidnappings,337 often occurring in the suburbs of the FCT.338 According to a report by Nextier, 116 kidnap victims were recorded in 2024.339 Incidents, for example, were reported in November 2024,340 and January,341 February,342 March,343 and May344 2025. In some cases, arrests of alleged kidnappers345 and clashes between them and police346 were reported. Bwari LGA was affected by kidnappings for ransom,347 with at least 49 kidnapping victims reported over the year 2024.348 In June 2024, a media article mentions ‘cases of deadly cult clashes and attacks’ in Bwari Area Council.349

Other types of violence resulting in fatalities included attacks by gunmen,350 including attacks against herders351 and by herders.352 Deadly clashes between members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria353 and security forces were reported in March 2025354 and August 2024.355 Further protests were reported in early August 2024, when police used tear gas to disperse protesters demonstrating against economic reforms by the government,356 and in March 2024, riots were reported at Abuja’s Wuse market.357 An IED explosion was reported at a school in the outskirts of Abuja in January 2025, killing two people and injuring two others. 358 Another explosion occurred outside an army barracks in the centre of the capital Abuja in May 2025, injuring one person.359

b) Security incidents and impact on the population

In the period between 1 January 2024 and 31 August 2025, ACLED recorded 210 security incidents in FCT Abuja, which resulted in 170 fatalities. Of these security incidents, 45 were coded as battles, 2 as explosions/remote violence, 55 as riots and 108 as incidents of violence against civilians.360

Imported image pandoc_image_4.png

Figure 6: Evolution of security events coded as battles, explosions/remote violence, riots, and violence against civilians in FCT Abuja, 1 January 2024 – 31 August 2025, based on ACLED data.361

Security incidents were recorded by ACLED in all 6 LGAs of the state, with the highest numbers documented in Abuja Municipal (111 incidents), Bwari (34 incidents), Gwagwalada (22 incidents), Kuje (21 incidents), Abaji LGAs (12 incidents). According to ACLED, unidentified armed groups and Fulani ethnic militias (coded as either ‘Actor1’ or ‘Actor2’) were involved in the majority of incidents coded as violence against civilians.362

According to Nigeria Watch, 43 fatalities related to abductions were recorded in the FCT in 2024.363

In March 2025, suspected bandits killed two vigilante members while attempting to invade a Fulani settlement at Dogon Ruwa village in Abaji Area Council.364 Also in March 2025, six people, including one member of the security forces, were killed in clashes between security forces and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Abuja.365 In January 2025, armed men kidnapped a family of three in Chikakore area of Kubwa in Bwari LGA.366

Conflict-related infrastructure damage - In March 2024, youths reportedly set fire to a part of Wuse market367 and in August 2024, protesters reportedly damaged cars.368

Road security - A May 2025 article by The Abuja Inquirer reported that the Abuja-Lokoja Highway was ‘long plagued by violent crime, kidnappings, and fear’. The Abaji/Kwali section of the road was a preferred location for ambushes. The article however noted that ‘recent reports indicate a significant reduction in criminal activities’ along the route, credited ‘to increased patrols led by the Nigerian army and other security agencies.’ However, certain sections of the road continued to suffer from potholes, poor lighting, and deserted checkpoints, which were frequently used as ambush spots.369

Displacement, movement and return - No information could be found on conflict-induced displacement or returns in FCT Abuja during the reference period.

c) State response in maintaining law and order

In July 2025, the FCT Police Command initiated a joint security patrol and deployment in collaboration with the military and paramilitary agencies, ‘following recent security incidents within the Federal Capital Territory, particularly kidnapping, one chance robbery attacks and vandalism of public property’.370 Already in January 2024, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had launched the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) in the FTC to combat insecurity and kidnapping.371 According to the IGP, the SIS consisted of ‘trained, well-equipped and highly mobile police officers’.372 At the end of February 2024, the SIS had reportedly carried out operations in ‘Kawu, Kuchikau, Bwari, Nigerian Law School, Verias University, Claritian Missionary Seminary, Zuma I, Zuma II, Iguh areas of the FCT which are known areas for terrorist and bandit activities.’373 In March 2025, for example, police killed a ‘notorious kidnapper’, and in June 2025 arrested a ‘suspected kidnap kingpin’ during operations.374

  • 334

    Nigeria, Federal Government of Nigeria, States, Federal Capital Territory, n.d., url

  • 335

    Nigeria, Federal Government of Nigeria, States, Federal Capital Territory, n.d., url

  • 336

    UNFPA and US Census Bureau, Nigeria – Subnational Population Statistics, 2022, modified 11 September 2024, url

  • 337

    Punch, Many feared abducted as kidnappers storm Abuja estate, 26 May 2025, url; FIJ, Daily Abductions Fuel Fear Among Abuja Residents, 1 November 2024, url; SBM Intelligence, Inside Nigeria’s Hostage Capital: Unraveling the economic impact of Abuja’s kidnap epidemic, 1 February 2024, url; Africanews, Nigeria: mass kidnappings returns to Abuja, 17 January 2024, url; Leadership, Escalation Of Kidnapping In Abuja, A Cause For Concern, 23 January 2024, url

  • 338

    DW, Nigeria: Kidnappings in Abuja spark new fears, 19 January 2024, url

  • 339

    Nextier, Mutations of Terror and Conflicts. 2025 Security and Conflict Outlook in Nigeria, February 2025, url, p. 31

  • 340

    FIJ, Daily Abductions Fuel Fear Among Abuja Residents, 1 November 2024, url

  • 341

    Premium Times, How APC leader Rauf Adeniji died in kidnappers’ den, 11 April 2025, url

  • 342

    Vanguard, Kidnappers kill 2 FCT residents over delay in ransom payment, 20 February 2025, url

  • 343

    Guardian (The) Nigeria, Gunmen kidnap Defence HQ official, two others in Abuja 22 March 2025, url; Daily Trust, Kidnappers abduct village head, grandchildren, 5 others in Abuja, 12 March 2025, url

  • 344

    Punch, Many feared abducted as kidnappers storm Abuja estate, 26 May 2025, url

  • 345

    Global Upfront, Police Arrest Another Notorious Kidnapping Kingpin In FCT Abuja, Recover Weapon, 18 June 2025, url; Leadership, Police Uncover Kidnappers’ Hideout In Abuja, Arrest 4, 3 October 2024, url

  • 346

    Vanguard, Police foil plans to kidnap residents of El-Rufai Estate in Abuja, 18 July 2024, url; Daily Trust, Policeman killed as officers foil kidnap of FCT council chair’s family, 10 April 2024, url; Daily Trust, ‘Wanted’ suspected bandit killed in gun duel with police in FCT, 13 March 2025, url

  • 347

    Daily Trust, After killing Abuja village head, kidnappers reduce ransom on grandchildren, 19 March 2025, url; Daily Trust, Abductors of APC nat’l director demand N350m ransom, 12 February 2025, url

  • 348

    Premium Times, Armed men disguised as vigilantes kidnap family of three in Abuja, 27 January 2025, url

  • 349

    Daily Trust, Mpape: Inside Abuja community under siege by cult, criminal gangs, 29 June 2024, url

  • 350

    Daily Trust, Gunmen kill 2 vigilantes in reprisal attack near FCT, 11 July 2025, url; Tribune Online, Gunmen invade Abuja communities, kill one, abduct four, 30 June 2024, url; Cable (The), Gunmen ‘kill three more residents’ kidnapped from Abuja community, 15 January 2024, url

  • 351

    Daily Trust, Gunmen kill 2 vigilantes in FCT, 14 March 2025, url

  • 352

    Daily Trust, 1 killed as herders, villagers fight over water pond in Abuja community, 6 March 2025, url

  • 353

    The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) is a Shia minority movement with close links to Iran, active primarily in northern Nigeria. It emerged in the 1980s under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who was influenced by Iran’s revolutionary ideology. The government formally announced the banning of the group in July 2019. HRW, Nigeria: Court Bans Shia Group, 30 July 2019, url

  • 354

    AP, Clash between Nigerian security forces and members of pro-Palestinian group kill 6, 29 March 2025, url; Reuters, Shi'ite protesters clash with Nigerian military, police in Abuja, 29 March 2025, url; Guardian (The) Nigeria, Police confirm officer killed in IMN attack, 29 March 2025, url

  • 355

    Vanguard, 2 officers, IMN members killed as Police, Shi’ite clash in Abuja, 26 August 2024, url

  • 356

    Reuters, At least 3 killed in Nigeria at protests over high cost of living, 1 August 2024, url; Channels TV, Security Operatives Clash With Protesters In Gwagwalada, Abuja, 2 August 2024, url

  • 357

    Channels TV, Uproar As Wuse Market Shut Down After Fire Outbreak, 13 March 2024, url

  • 358

    AP, Explosive device kills 2 at a school near Nigeria’s capital, police say, 7 January 2025, url

  • 359

    Reuters, Nigeria police investigate blast outside army barracks in Abuja, 26 May 2025, url

  • 360

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 361

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 362

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 363

    Nigeria Watch, Fourteenth report on violence in Nigeria 2024, 2025, url, p. 10

  • 364

    Daily Trust, Gunmen kill 2 vigilantes in FCT, 14 March 2025, url

  • 365

    AP, Clash between Nigerian security forces and members of pro-Palestinian group kill 6, 29 March 2025, url

  • 366

    Premium Times, Armed men disguised as vigilantes kidnap family of three in Abuja, 27 January 2025, url

  • 367

    Channels TV, Uproar As Wuse Market Shut Down After Fire Outbreak, 13 March 2024, url

  • 368

    Channels TV, Security Operatives Clash With Protesters In Gwagwalada, Abuja, 2 August 2024, url

  • 369

    Abuja Inquirer (The), Abuja-Lokoja Highway: A renewed success story of security, community initiatives, 25 May 2025, url

  • 370

    Vanguard, FCT police, military activate joint patrols to curb kidnapping, one chance, vandalism, 8 July 2025, url

  • 371

    Vanguard, FCT insecurity: IGP launches special intervention squad to combat kidnapping, 17 January 2024, url

  • 372

    Premium Times, Insecurity: IGP inaugurates Special Intervention Squad in FCT, 17 January 2024, url

  • 373

    Nation (The), National Security: Special Intervention Squad (SIS), its impact, prospects, 25 February 2024, url

  • 374

    PR Nigeria, Police Arrest Kidnap Kingpin in FCT as Bandits Attack Niger Community, 15 June 2025, url ; Cable (The), Police kill ‘notorious kidnapper’ in Abuja, recover weapons, 12 March 2025, url