Abuja’s landscape, with its rolling hills, lush green spaces, and surprising pockets of wildlife, can awaken the primal instincts in anyone. You see a flash of fur or the glint of scales and think, “This is it.” But hold up.

In Nigeria’s capital, not all green spaces are created equal, and mistaking a protected zone for a hunting ground is a fast track to serious trouble.

The recent viral tale of a man apprehended for attempting to hunt a crocodile at the IBB Golf Course is a potent reminder. To save you from a similar fate, here is an in-depth insider’s guide to the six “bushes” in and around Abuja where you must absolutely, under no circumstances, attempt to hunt, complete with the legal and security realities behind the warnings.

6 Places Where Hunting is Forbidden in Abuja

6. Almat Farms, Kuje

This sprawling, beautiful farm in Kuje is a premier destination for agro-tourism and leisure. It offers horseback riding, polo, quad biking, fine dining, and a tranquil escape from the city. It is also home to various animals, including magnificent horses, poultry, and other livestock.

Almat Farms is a sophisticated, private commercial enterprise. The animals on its property are not wild game; they are valuable assets and the cornerstone of the farm’s tourism and agricultural business. The entire area is private property, managed and secured to ensure the safety of its guests and the well-being of its livestock.

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The Inevitable Consequence: Entering Almat Farms to hunt is not poaching; it’s trespassing with intent to steal or destroy private property. The farm’s security is equipped to handle intruders, and you would be handed over to the authorities to face charges of theft, trespassing, and malicious damage.

5. Millennium Park

Inaugurated in 2003 by Queen Elizabeth II, Millennium Park is the largest public park in Abuja, located in the Maitama district. It is a carefully designed green space, a symbol of friendship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and a vital recreational hub for residents.

As a designated urban park under the administration of the FCT Parks and Recreation Department, Millennium Park is explicitly a conservation and recreation zone. All flora and fauna within its boundaries are protected. Its purpose is strictly for leisure, picnics, and the peaceful enjoyment of nature. The park’s regulations, which are enforceable by law, strictly forbid the harming or capturing of any animals.

The Inevitable Consequence: Park security and on-site police details are mandated to enforce these rules. Anyone caught attempting to hunt whether a bird, a fish, or the rumored crocodile will be immediately apprehended and handed over to law enforcement for prosecution under FCT environmental and public order laws.

4. IBB International Golf and Country Club

The manicured fairways and pristine water hazards of this sprawling, world-class golf course are home to more than just Abuja’s elite. The semi-wild environment hosts a surprising biodiversity, including various bird species, monitor lizards, and a now-famous population of crocodiles.

The IBB Golf Course is a private, members-only institution on land governed by strict rules. The wildlife within its perimeter is considered an integral part of the club’s natural aesthetic and ecosystem. They are legally protected by the club’s bylaws and, more broadly, by FCT environmental laws that prohibit poaching in non-designated areas.

The Inevitable Consequence: Any attempt to hunt here constitutes multiple offenses: trespassing on private property, destruction of property (the animals), and poaching. Club security is extensive and will apprehend intruders immediately, leading to legal charges and public humiliation.

3. Zuma Rock and its Environs

While technically just outside the FCT in Niger State, Zuma Rock is an unmistakable icon on the Abuja skyline. The area around it, including resorts and natural landscapes, is home to wildlife like antelopes and guinea fowl.

Zuma Rock is not just a large stone; it is a legally protected National Monument. This designation affords it and its immediate surroundings special protection under Nigerian law. The area is a key tourist destination, and the wildlife is a protected attraction intended to enhance the visitor experience.

The Inevitable Consequence: Law enforcement and park rangers responsible for the monument’s security will treat any hunting activity as a serious crime. You would face prosecution not just for poaching, but for violating regulations that protect a national treasure. The warning of “spending time in prison” is not hyperbole.

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2. National Children’s Park and Zoo, Asokoro

This one should be obvious, but for clarity’s sake, let’s state it plainly. This facility is the National Zoo. It contains lions, crocodiles, monkeys, and numerous other animals for the express purpose of conservation, education, and public exhibition.

The animals here are cataloged, managed, and legally owned assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are under the highest level of protection as endangered or conserved species. The entire facility is secured and monitored to protect both the public from the animals and the animals from the public.

The Inevitable Consequence: Attempting to hunt in a zoo is an act of spectacular foolishness that would result in a whirlwind of severe criminal charges. These would include, but not be limited to, poaching of protected species, trespassing on sensitive federal property, animal cruelty, and endangering the public. It would be a national scandal.

1. The Aso Rock Presidential Villa and its Perimeter

This is the absolute, undisputed champion of forbidden zones. The lush, thick vegetation surrounding the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court the Three Arms Zone is a critical security buffer.

This area falls under Nigeria’s Protected Places Act. It is a designated high-security zone where access is strictly controlled and unauthorized activities are viewed through the lens of national security. 

The humorous idea that animals here have “gained immunity” is rooted in a serious reality: the entire zone is under constant surveillance by elite security forces, including the Brigade of Guards and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Inevitable Consequence: The response here would be swift and severe. You would not be charged with poaching; you would be detained and investigated for espionage or terrorism. In this zone, the distinction between a hunter and an intruder does not exist. It is, without question, the most dangerous place in Nigeria to make a bad decision.