Barely a month after a massive demolition was carried out at Iddo Sarki Community, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has again returned to the Community with its Bulldozers, pulling down over 350 houses said to be sitting on unauthorized plots.
Iddo Sarki community, located along Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport road is said to have been hijacked by desperate investors acquiring lands from the locals to build illegal hostels for university of Abuja students due to its proximity to the School.
At the scene of the demolition, while many families in anger and tears rained abuses and curses on the Administration as they battle to remove some valuables, others who admitted that they had learnt their lessons, however, pointed accusing fingers to sellers of the plot that gave them fake hope.
The Confusion became heightened when the rain drizzles, leaving many university students with their mattresses and boxes stranded and helpless, while others that got the demolition news from school flee to the scene with utmost confusion.
Speaking to newsmen after the enforcement, Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task Force on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah said the 3 weeks break was an understanding between FCTA and some stakeholders that pleaded for extra time to enable affected persons relocate.
Attah who noted that there was need to sustain the tempo of the sanitation towards redeeming the nation’s capital from becoming an undesirable slum, said the bulldozers would be directed to Mpape in two weeks’ time.
Comrade Attah who advised residents to desist from patronizing lands from the natives, stated it clearly that FCTA would not compensate victims that illegally procured such lands.
He, however, advised that victims seek justice against the sellers of the illegal land.
“Anyone who buys land from the local Chiefs is doing that in contraventions of the laws and such persons will bear the brunt. Our work is to remove illegalities.Those who were affected can seek justice against those that sold the illegal land” Attah said
Also speaking, Peter Olumuji, from FCTA Department of Security Services, confirmed that the ongoing sanitation and demolition exercise had reduced the rate of crime along the Airport road axis.
He enjoined Nigerians to always do the right thing to avoid negative consequences.
RN