From Muhammad Ahmadu Saka, in Bauchi
A Bauc
hi State High Court number 12 presided over by Justice Aliyu Bin Idris has warned the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), State Ministry of lands to respect the restraining order granted over land dispute in Giro village of Ganjuwa local government area of the state.
Justice Aliyu gave the warning today (Thursday) during proceedings in suit No. BA/251/2026, filed by the landowners, Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, Ishaq Mohammed Kobi and Murtala Isma’il against the Bauchi State Ministry of Lands and Survey, the Attorney General of Bauchi State, and the State Security Service (DSS), Bauchi State Command.
Justice Aliyu told the lawyers to the defendants not to interfere or to go against the restraining order on the disputed land situated along Gubi Dam area in Firo village, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
He directed the counsel to the Ministry of lands to serve the DSS with the processes they filed and adjourned the suit to July 16, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, counsel to the claimants, Barr. Abdullatif Goni Isa, said the suit was filed by landowners who claim lawful ownership and possession of the property.
He alleged that DSS operatives, in collaboration with some officials of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, recently entered the farmland without prior notice, consultation, consent, or lawful authority and began assessing and marking it for possible acquisition on behalf of the DSS.
He said the claimants approached the court to protect their rights and subsequently obtained an interim injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with their possession of the land pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
He said the court reiterated the need for the DSS and Ministry officials to strictly comply with its orders following allegations that activities were still ongoing on the land despite the subsisting court injunction that stopped them from doing so.
He said the Ministry of Lands had filed its response and served its response to the suit on the claimants, while the DSS are yet to file any response.
He said that the matter was adjourned because the Ministry had not completed service of its processes on the DSS.
The lawyer added that Justice Idris again cautioned counsel representing the DSS and the Ministry to ensure their clients complied fully with the court’s orders pending the next hearing date.
Also speaking, Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi said she and the other claimants were the lawful owners of the land, having acquired title through legitimate purchases and allocations granted by the Ganjuwa local government authority.
She stated that since acquiring the property, they had exercised uninterrupted ownership and possession, including farming activities and the demarcation of plots for sale, without interference until the events that led to the current dispute.
She said in 2020, the Ministry of Lands acquired portions of land from several individuals to facilitate the establishment of an SSS training school.
Fatima said that in 2024, the SSS expressed interest in purchasing additional plots from her. However, after she submitted a letter indicating her willingness to sale the plots, the SSS allegedly failed to respond, prompting her to continue marketing the plots to interested buyers.
She alleged that the DSSS commenced the installation of beacons and demarcation of the land in what she described as an attempt to unlawfully annex the property.
Fatima also alleged that agents of the DSS issued threats to the claimants, warning that anyone who entered or worked on the land would be shot, thereby depriving them of their ownership and possessory rights.
She lamented that part of the disputed land belonged to orphans under her care and appealed to the court to ensure justice and fairness.
