Bloody clash averted as FCTA clears shanties in Utako

By Stanley Onyekwere

Just few hours into yesterday’s demolition of hundreds of illegal structures mainly shanties in Utako village, many affected residents in an attempt to salvage their properties clashed with scavengers otherwise known as Baba-bolas in the area.

The scavengers, who defied the presence of security operatives at the demolition site, were seen snatching different Materials from their lawful owners who obviously were overwhelmed by the pains of the demolition. 

It was gathered that as the demolition bulldozers rammed into hundreds of shanties, scavengers rushed into the area, in search of valuables from the demolished structures.

Explaining the exercise, Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima explained that the clean up exercise was not just a routine one, but a special operation to remove all illegal structures and pave way for the original allottees to regain their land.

Galadima noted that quit notice had been given to the squatters long ago to enable them safely relocate. 

Similarly, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister,  Ikharo Attah said the operation was also targeted at addressing perennial traffic and criminal activities in the area.

Attah, who also doused the tension generated over speculation that the homes of the indigenous people within the village  would be demolished, assured that only illegal structures on the land allocated to the FCT Police Command was earmarked for demolition. 

He also added that the clean up exercise would help to restore the environmental sanitation and aesthetic of the Utako District. 

“We are only removing the illegal shanties to reclaim the land for the original allottees.  We are not demolishing the houses of indigenous people.

“The clean up will also help to address the disturbing traffic gridlock and also criminal activities of miscreants in the place”, Attah said.