Residents of Ruga Community, along the Lugbe-Airport Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, from carrying out further demolitions in the area.
It was reported that a Special Ministerial Task Team of the FCT Administration had, on Wednesday, demolished illegal settlements in the community, while shanties made from sacks, scrap roofing materials, and planks were destroyed and set ablaze.
Speaking during the demolition exercise, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Security, Adamu Gwary, represented by the Secretary of the FCT Command and Control Unit, Peter Olumuji, explained that the settlements were built on people’s plots of land and obstructed a rail corridor, adding that their occupation could pose a threat to residents using the Abuja Metro Line.
However, the counsel for the residents and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who spoke on behalf of the residents on Friday, disclosed that the demolition exercise would affect over 15,000 residents in the area, adding that there was no justification for the ongoing demolitions.
He also alleged that a resident had been shot in the foot during the demolition exercise.
“The reason why we are here is because of the ongoing massive demolitions in the FCT by the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. The reason why we have come to this particular location, there are four different locations, affecting more than 15,000 residents of the FCT in this location alone.
