Abuja master plan: Mayhem as ‘miscreants’ attack FCTA Taskforce

• … Police officer, others hospitalised

By Stanley Onyekwere

There was mayhem yesterday as group of Miscreants attacked, injured and took  hostage some members of the Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) Taskforce team, including a police officer, at Gaduwa District of Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

It was gathered that while the injured Police officer and some of attackers were said to have been  rushed  to hospitals, the officials taken hostage were later  released, following a rapid response from the rescue team of FCT Police Command , led by Deputy Commissioner of Police for Operations, Bernard Igwe.

 The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah,  who was on another Ministerial duty at flood- devastated areas in  Lokogoma District, but later responded to a distressed call from the attacked team, has confirmed the incident. 

Attah disclosed that some officials of the Development Control attached to the Taskforce, who went to Gaduwa Community to mark for demolition some illegal  houses springing up indiscriminately in the community, were heavily resisted and attacked by some persons bearing different dangerous weapons.

He noted that,  but for the quick intervention of the re-enforced  rescue team, the miscreants would have unleashed more mayhem on the team. 

He however commended some indigenous youth who helped in calming the situation and work towards  the release of the hostages.

“ I was sent somewhere by the Minister and before I could I arrive the scene the Police officer who was badly injured on the head and others had been rushed to hospital. 

“ Those who were held hostage were rescued by the rescue team led by DC Bernard Igwe. The area where the indigenous people stay was not marked. The Police will determine what happens to those who were arrested “.

Narrating his ordeal, one of the officials that were held hostage and leader of the Development control  officials Kalu Amadi,  said the experience was horrific and may take some time for him to overcome the psychological trauma. 

Amadi, who was allegedly striped half naked, explained that the attackers refused to hear that he was on an official duty, and almost killed him.

According to an indigenous youth who spoke on condition of anonymity, there are  few houses owned by some indigenes in the areas marked illegal  expansion within the community. He noted that  the place  is largely occupied by non indigenous people whom he pleaded should be allowed to live with them.

He also explained that a man and lady who sustained injury in the conflict have also been rushed to the hospital.