Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
In continuation to its operations, the FCT Administration’s special ministerial task team has stormed and cleared shanties within a notorious unplanned squatters’ settlement known as Ruga, located behind National Park and National Military Cemetery, along the busy Abuja Airport Road.
In particular, the team yesterday on the 9th day of its operations crushed and set ablaze hundreds of shanties comprising mainly of old sacks, woods and zink scraps hitherto built along the rail corridors of the Abuja Metro line.
The team otherwise called ‘Operation Sweep’ headed by the Commissioner of FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, had started the ongoing special operation, following the directive of the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to ensure that the city centre is being rid of every form of nuisances and criminality.
Explaining the exercise, Director, FCT Security Services Department, Adamu Gwari, described Ruga settlement as where there were a lot of shanties and other illegal structures on peoples’ plots of land.
Gwari, who was represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary, FCT Command and Control Centre, noted that it has been established overtime the illegal structures harboured criminal elements and all unauthorised persons, who go into activities that are abominable to the law of the land.
He added that the site was close to the rail corridors, which must always be made safer for those using the Abuja Metro line, hence the decision to remove the illegal structures.
He adds: “You know we have had the incidences of vandalism of the rail tracks, so coming here to remove this unplanned settlement and shanties would improve security of the rail corridor.
“The operation is a holistic one that covers different activities in the city, and we have four sectors covering different parts of the city simultaneously.”
On ensuring that those displaced don’t return to reoccupy place, the Director said the FCT Minister had categorically warned that all those who own plots land in the city should develop it or face revocation.
According to him, “Most of them here have complained overtime that they have not been able to have access to their plots of land was because of these shanties and criminal elements there. They have tried to take over their plots of land in time past, and they have come under attack, but today the FCTA had come with the Task team to help them clear the place.
“So, let the owners of the plots of land there to immediately take over and start development”.
Reacting to the development, one of the dislodged settlers, Ibrahim Yusuf, who identified himself as Secretary of Ruga Community, vowed that they will remain there, as they cannot afford other places to relocate to and settle down permanently within the city.
“We have been in this community for more 20 years, and they have come for demolition here more than 20 times, and we are still here.
“What tell us all the time is you people are living in an illegal area, so leave the place. We can be ready to vacate the place, but we are not ready to leave Abuja.
“ Because, we would always want to find a place to put our heads, it means demolition will continue. So, it is important for us to come to terms with the government, so that we will have an understanding. So nobody is fighting anyone.
“We are appealing to the government that we want a resettlement. Whatever condition they can give us, to restle us, I think we are ready to accept those conditions. This is just our appeal”, he stated.
