By Usman Shuaibu
The Joint Task Force of the FCT Administration has handed down a one-week ultimatum to squatters on encroached plots in Apo Dutse Pantaker, Dutse District of Abuja.
This move, it was gathered that would pave way for the encroached land, which has been allocated for residential purposes, to be reclaimed and handed over to the owners for development.
According to the Coordinator of the team and Director, Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima who visited the place yesterday, to interface with the squatters, noted that the task force received an intelligence report on increased robbery activity in the area.
Galadima noted that the place was demolished before by previous Administrations and that more recently, a lot of sensitization had been carried out to get the squatters to relocate or face demolition within the next one week.
“We received an intelligence report that there are some challenges here and you would recall that this place was removed before, but they came back. Now we want to again clear the place once again, once and for all.
“But today we are engaging with them, discussing the mode of operation before we come back for demolition and we will likely to come back next week so that we have the exercise harmoniously”, he stressed.
On his part, Secretary, Command and Control in the FCTA, Dr. Peter Olumuji, explained that the team has been receiving reports criminal attacks on an estate in the area, adding that once the illegal settlement is cleared, the crime rate within the district would be reduced.
He added that the task team has given them time to park there things, and that after the expiration of the ultimatum, the team would be back to ensure enforcement.
