300 residents defy eviction order

Series of attempts to eject the residents of Shagayya, a community in Suleja Local Council in Niger State met brick wall in the last two weeks. Residents who live in the over 300 homes refused to leave their houses, despite the court judgment which awarded the ownership of the land to another person during its […]

Series of attempts to eject the residents of Shagayya, a community in Suleja Local Council in Niger State met brick wall in the last two weeks.
Residents who live in the over 300 homes refused to leave their houses, despite the court judgment which awarded the ownership of the land to another person during its ruling on February 12 this year.
Daily Trust reported penultimate week how court officials accompanied by armed policemen went to the area and ordered the residents to vacate their houses after a two-day notice.
Gates of houses were placed under padlock at a time some of the residents were still inside them, while some buildings under development were demolished by the officials.
The action which raised tension in the community was however halted.
The drama continued penultimate Friday when the officials stormed the area around 6.00a.m. pulling residents out of their homes and replacing the broken padlocks.
The residents confronted the action by blocking the officials from further moving, a situation that caused a gridlock around that part of the town.
The residents later went to the police area commander in Suleja where they lodged a complaint about police participation in the operation, arguing that the judgment was yet to reach the 90 days grace of appeal.
One of the respondents in the case, Abubakar Nagogo Kawuni said he had filed appeal and also sought a stay of execution from the High Court, as confirmed by one of the court officials who asked for anonymity.