Protesters barricade Abuja highway over army land grab

Articulated lorries and other vehicles have being forced to stop for hours, as residents of Tungan Maje in Gwagwalada area council of the federal capital territory have taken over the road to protest alleged plans by the Nigerian Army to take over land in the area. The area of land is said to stretch from […]

Articulated lorries and other vehicles have being forced to stop for hours, as residents of Tungan Maje in Gwagwalada area council of the federal capital territory have taken over the road to protest alleged plans by the Nigerian Army to take over land in the area.

The area of land is said to stretch from Giri Junction along Abuja Airport Road to Zuba, more than 44 kilometres in length.

Koro communities led by their FCT leader Adamu Isiaku told Daily Trust at the scene of the protest that they went on protest after noticing army officials have drafted excavators to the land on Monday.

They insisted the army would not take their ancestral land, like has been done to other communities along the highway.

They said a committee set up two weeks ago by the government was yet to produce a resolution.

The protest, from 7 on Tuesday morning, is considered to have brought hardship on travellers, transporters carrying livestock and farm produce between the north and the south.

It took Civil Defence and Police up until 11:30 am, to clear the road after protesters insisted they would not let up until the excavators are removed.

Responding, the police area commander in charge of Kubwa CSP Alfa Jibrin said they are making all effort to see the way is open for users.