Pandemonium took over the popular Kubwa-Zuba expressway
yesterday, when angry natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a
protest on the ever busy expressway following the death of a woman and her son
during the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) demolition of Aluguyi
Village, popularly known as Lungu Village in the FCT.
yesterday, when angry natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a
protest on the ever busy expressway following the death of a woman and her son
during the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) demolition of Aluguyi
Village, popularly known as Lungu Village in the FCT.
The protesters who started the protest at about 12 noon,
barricaded the expressway with burning tyres and bricks, protesting over the
lives that were lost during what they described as unannounced and inhuman
demolition of the community by the officials of the FCDA.
barricaded the expressway with burning tyres and bricks, protesting over the
lives that were lost during what they described as unannounced and inhuman
demolition of the community by the officials of the FCDA.
According to a witness, Mr Joshua Iyah, officials of the
FCDA in company of well armed military personnel stormed the community at about
10am, and started demolishing houses along with their belongings, not minding
if people were inside or not.
FCDA in company of well armed military personnel stormed the community at about
10am, and started demolishing houses along with their belongings, not minding
if people were inside or not.
“During the demolition, a primary school boy came home from
school tired and hungry, not understanding what was going on, he entered their
house to change from his school uniform and as he was still inside the house,
that was when the bulldozer demolishing their house and blocks fell on the boy.
school tired and hungry, not understanding what was going on, he entered their
house to change from his school uniform and as he was still inside the house,
that was when the bulldozer demolishing their house and blocks fell on the boy.
“Attempts to rescue the boy were not successful because the
military and policemen were using whips against us. They even prevented his
mother from rescuing him. The boy died immediately. When the mother of the boy
saw what happened to her child, she took a broken bottle and stabbed herself to
death”, he said.
military and policemen were using whips against us. They even prevented his
mother from rescuing him. The boy died immediately. When the mother of the boy
saw what happened to her child, she took a broken bottle and stabbed herself to
death”, he said.
JethroIliya, another eye witness said that they initially
started the protest inside Gwarinpa estate, but when there was no response from
the FCT minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed or relevant authorities, they decided to
move to Kubwa-Zuba expressway to express their grievances.
started the protest inside Gwarinpa estate, but when there was no response from
the FCT minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed or relevant authorities, they decided to
move to Kubwa-Zuba expressway to express their grievances.
“To make matters worse the policemen shot two people, when
we were protesting over the two people shot, the military men started shooting
again in the air. As I speak to you, two people are dead and two are currently
in the hospital.
we were protesting over the two people shot, the military men started shooting
again in the air. As I speak to you, two people are dead and two are currently
in the hospital.
“What wrong have we done as natives of Abuja to have given
our land to the federal government? We have given enough! They have collected
our farmlands, we were quiet, now they are coming to chase us out of our
houses. We have so many graduates everywhere, but no job, yet they will say we
are not educated.
our land to the federal government? We have given enough! They have collected
our farmlands, we were quiet, now they are coming to chase us out of our
houses. We have so many graduates everywhere, but no job, yet they will say we
are not educated.
“Enough is enough, we have been pushed to the wall. This is
just the beginning, we cannot take this anymore! Was it a crime for us to have
given our land to Nigeria? This is too much, we are not animals. They should do
the right thing in Abuja, before it is too late,” he said.
just the beginning, we cannot take this anymore! Was it a crime for us to have
given our land to Nigeria? This is too much, we are not animals. They should do
the right thing in Abuja, before it is too late,” he said.
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