The recent demolition exercise by “Operation Sweep”, a task force set up by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has continued to generate intense debate and varied reactions from the public, with some condemning it.
Persecondnews recalls that the demolition of homes in the Ruga settlement along Airport Road in Lugbe, Abuja, sparked massive protests on Friday, with residents taking to the streets to express their discontent.
Protesters, led by activist and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, condemned the heavy-handed and oppressive method employed by the task force.
Despite being considered a security threat to the area, they demanded the minister’s removal, claiming that their ancestors had built the demolished settlements.
Reacting to the protest on Sunday, Wike made it clear that the government won’t be swayed by protests, threats, or criticism from illegal occupants or civil society organizations, and will continue to carry out its duties.
The minister expressed concern over the area’s 22 demolitions and the illegal occupants’ refusal to leave.
He said: “Be assured that we will continue with the demolition of shanties that pose a security threat to FCT, Abuja.
“It doesn’t matter what colouration; whatever name anybody wants to give to it, we will do the right thing and nothing will stop us.”
The minister warned the illegal occupants against rebuilding any structure in the demolished area, stating that the FCT Administration has a responsibility to protect the lives and properties of all residents.
Security agencies identified Ruga as one of the areas posing security threats to the FCT, prompting the demolition of the shanties, he explained.
Wike said: “This is where you have the rail line; this is a buffer zone, and if we allow these kinds of people to live here, what it means, anything can happen to our train.
“Nobody will take that risk. You can imagine the number of persons that are living here, whom we cannot identify.
“We have told them that nobody should build anything, whether temporary or permanent, until the government has taken a final decision on what to do with the land.”
He asked Malam Abba Garo, the spokesman for the illegal occupants, to nominate five individuals, including himself, to meet with government officials on Tuesday to find a solution for the people.
Earlier, Garo stated that, although they could not lay claim to the land, they had been living in the area for the past 39 years.
He said that despite the area’s 22 demolitions, the residents returned and rebuilt because they had no other place to live.
Garo described the Ruga as “mini-Nigeria,” with people from different parts of the country represented in the community.
He pleaded with Wike to allocate alternative land for them to resettle, saying they have nowhere else to go.
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