THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has opened an investigation into the discovery of a decomposed body inside a vehicle at the National Assembly car park in Abuja.
News Point Nigeria gathered the the deceased, identified as 55-year-old Gaddafi Iwar, a Tiv labourer reportedly working at a construction site within the complex, was found around 9:00pm on Sunday, September 7, 2025, in a red Peugeot 406 with registration number BWR-577 BF.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident caused panic among staff and security operatives at the National Assembly before police operatives intervened.
FCT Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying a distress call was received at the National Assembly Division of the Police.
“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), National Assembly Division, immediately responded to the call and, upon arrival, discovered the deceased inside a red Peugeot 406 motor vehicle with registration number BWR-577 BF,” she said.
She added that the body was first evacuated to the National Assembly Clinic for confirmation, before being transferred to Asokoro General Hospital. However, hospital officials reportedly declined to admit the corpse due to its advanced state of decomposition.
Following the rejection, leaders of the Tiv community took responsibility for the remains, which were eventually buried at Gbawu village, a border town between Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Kuje Area Council, in order to avert a potential health hazard.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has ordered a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Adeh noted.
“Efforts are being intensified to determine the exact cause of death and gather more information about the deceased.”
Members of the Tiv community in Abuja have expressed shock over the incident. Some described Iwar as a hardworking labourer who had been engaged at one of the ongoing projects within the National Assembly premises.
Community leaders, who spoke to News point Nigeria called for a thorough investigation, noting that the discovery raises serious concerns about welfare and security around the legislative complex.
At the time of filing this report, police had not confirmed how long the deceased had been in the vehicle, or whether foul play was suspected.
Police investigators are also working to establish whether Iwar had any known medical conditions or conflicts that could have contributed to his death.
The FCT Police Command assured that further updates would be released as the investigation progresses.