Victims seek refuge at chief’s palace as FCTA demolishes houses in Gwarimpa

The bulldozers of the Federal Capital Territory development control office were at Kuchibedna, a community located in the Gwarimpa district, on Tuesday, over a demolition exercise. Abuja Metro learnt that four bulldozers, accompanied by a team of joint security agencies, were rolled into the area, and within a few minutes, the demolition exercise commenced. Abuja […]

The bulldozers of the Federal Capital Territory development control office were at Kuchibedna, a community located in the Gwarimpa district, on Tuesday, over a demolition exercise.

Abuja Metro learnt that four bulldozers, accompanied by a team of joint security agencies, were rolled into the area, and within a few minutes, the demolition exercise commenced.

Abuja Metro visited the community, where villagers were seen in a distressed situation, with some of them already losing their properties to the exercise.

Amid the chaotic atmosphere, a team from the FCT Public Complaints Commission, led by its commissioner, Musa Dikko, arrived the community and following an engagement with the officials of the FCT Development Control by the commissioner, the exercise was halted.

Some of the victims of the exercise were seen taking refuge at the palace of the community chief, Speaking with Abuja Metro, the Village Head of the community, Mr. George Kojo, alledged that a particular developer was behind the exercise. 

He alleged that the developer had taken over a sizable portion of the community land that included their farms for over a decade following an earlier demolition exercise.

“He was made to stop further demolition after we rushed to an Abuja court. The court had asked us to provide our Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). But we told the court that as the natives of this community, we were found here through our ancestors, and there was no certificate given to us by the government in the first place.

“The court went ahead to rule its judgment in their favour. We appealed the case at the Court of Appeal, which also ruled in their favour. We are currently at the Supreme Court, where the case is still ongoing. So, we are surprised to see them coming back to the community with the same mission to continue with the demolition exercise, even when they are yet to resettle my people, or give them another land,” the chief lamented.

Also speaking, a youth leader in the community, Saleh Yakubu, said there was no prior notice to the residents before the Tuesday’s exercise.

“Many of us had gathered on the outskirts of the community where we were waiting for the arrival of officials of the FCDA, who were due to enumerate our land for compensation over a road that would pass through from the Karmo axis.

“All of a sudden, we saw the officials of the FCT Development Control Department arriving in our community. The team of the security men that accompanied them started shooting into the air and throwing teargas canisters into the crowd that kept swelling. They didn’t allow anyone to meet them in order to seek clarification. We were left with no option but to pass the information to any leader that we knew within the FCT that could intervene in the situation.

“Our prayers were answered with the arrival of the team of the FCT Public Complaints Commission, whose commissioner, Musa Dikko, was able to halt the exercise,” Yakubu narrated.

He added, “The story of our community would have been different by now, as there was no building planned to be spared in the exercise, including the palace of our chief. They were pulling down the building with all the four bulldozers available at their disposal simultaneously, to tell you how fast they wished to finish the exercise,” said the youth leader.

 

FCT Public Complaints Commission wades in

Meanwhile, the FCT Public Complaints Commission has waded into the issue. In a statement issued shortly after the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the commission, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said following the commission’s visit to the community, its commissioner, Musa Dikko, engaged the officials of the Development Control on the ground, led by its acting director.

“The FCT Ombudsman, Honourable Musa Dikko, sought to engage the official supervising the demolition exercise. The Acting Director of the Development Control Enforcement Unit stepped forward, but declined to provide full details and also refused to be captured on camera. When questioned about the demolition notice, or any court order authorizing the demolition, he failed to present any.

“After persistent pressure from the commissioner, he admitted that the document was not available at the site, claiming that it was in the office. But insisting on due process, Honourable Dikko resolved that the demolition exercise be halted until a proper legal authorization document could be produced. A call was subsequently placed to the Director of the Development Control, who spoke directly with the commissioner.

The Director instructed that the demolition exercise be suspended pending clarification and verification of the said court order,” the statement added.

Officials of the FCT Development Control Department declined to comment on the incident.