Court cautions DSS over alleged violation of injunction in Bauchi land dispute
Bauchi Court Issues Warning to DSS Over Land Dispute
A Bauchi State High Court has cautioned the Department of State Services (DSS) against actions that may contravene a previous court order concerning a disputed land parcel in Firo village, located within the Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
Justice Aliyu Bin Idris issued the warning during a hearing on Thursday in the case filed under suit No. BA/251/2026 by plaintiffs Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, Ishaq Mohammed Kobi, and Murtala Ismail. The plaintiffs named the Bauchi State Ministry of Lands and Survey, the Attorney General of Bauchi State, and the DSS, Bauchi State Command as defendants.
The court reaffirmed an earlier injunction that prohibits the DSS and officials from the Ministry of Lands and Survey from interfering with the contested land, which is situated near the Gubi Dam area, until the suit is resolved.
Following the session, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Abdullatif Gwani Isa, stated that the claimants brought the case after alleging that DSS operatives, along with certain officials from the Ministry of Lands and Survey, entered the farm without authorization, began marking it for potential acquisition, and did so without proper notice or consultation.
Isa noted that the court had issued an interim injunction to safeguard the rights of the claimants and maintain the current state of affairs pending further hearings. He emphasized the court’s reiteration of the need for strict adherence to the ruling amid ongoing allegations of unauthorized activities on the land.
“The court has barred both the DSS and Ministry of Lands officials from entering the farmland for any purpose, including acquisition or demarcation, until the proper legal procedures are followed,” Isa explained.
He revealed that while the Ministry of Lands and Survey has responded to the suit, the DSS has yet to file its required response, preventing the court from moving forward with a hearing on an interlocutory injunction.
Justice Idris reminded counsel for both the DSS and the Ministry to ensure their clients comply with court orders prior to the next adjourned date.
According to Isa, the claimants are not opposed to lawful government acquisition of the land, provided that the provisions of the Land Use Act are respected, including the issuance of acquisition notices and payment of compensation when necessary.
Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, one of the plaintiffs, stated that the claimants acquired the land through purchase and allocation from the Ganjuwa Local Government Authority, enjoying uninterrupted possession for many years. She expressed concern that the current dispute arose only after the DSS began actions around the property.
Abdullahi noted that while portions of land in the area were acquired in 2020 for the establishment of a DSS training school, the acquisition did not extend to the land currently in dispute. She mentioned that, in 2024, the DSS expressed interest in purchasing additional plots, to which she initially agreed but received no further communication.
The plaintiffs alleged that DSS personnel had threatened landowners and warned them against accessing or working on the property. Abdullahi has appealed to the court for justice, underscoring that part of the land belongs to orphans under her care.
The court has adjourned the case until July 16, 2026, to allow for the proper service of documents from the Ministry of Lands on the DSS.
