A tenant, Musa Alhassan, allegedly assaulted his landlord, Samson Bako, over an unpaid rent dispute in Pegi community, located within the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to local resident Ishaku Ayuba, the incident occurred after Bako locked Alhassan’s room for failing to settle his rent.
Ayuba explained that Alhassan, a commercial driver who had rented a single bedroom in the area, had been owing one year’s rent, which he refused to pay. The landlord’s son, responsible for collecting rent, had approached Alhassan multiple times, but the tenant continuously declined to pay.
“Alhassan had been living in the compound for three years, but since his rent expired last year, he has refused to pay the landlord,” Ayuba said.
The conflict escalated when Alhassan insulted the landlord’s son, prompting Bako to lock the tenant’s room while he was at work. When Alhassan returned late Thursday night and discovered his room had been locked, he asked other tenants who confirmed that it was the landlord’s doing.
Alhassan then attempted to slap the landlord’s son, and the situation escalated into a heated argument, leading to Alhassan assaulting Bako. Local vigilantes were quickly alerted and intervened, taking Alhassan into custody before handing him over to security personnel in the area.
A member of the vigilante group, identified as Joshua, confirmed the event, stating that the tenant was later handed over to local authorities.