Insecurity: Wike leads raid, clearance of Scavengers’ colony on Abuja road corridor

By Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike yestetday led several security operatives and relevant FCT city managers to commence the immediate clearance of invaders of proposed transit way corridors along Mabushi and Katampe Districts of Abuja.

It was observed that the operation described as the mother of all enforcement exercises, as it involved demolition, clearance and evacuation of large cashew planation and shanties hitherto chiefly occupied by scavengers otherwise known in common parlance as ‘Baban Bolas’, mechanics, furniture and squatters.

Addressing the officials at the site, the Minister, who described the encroached area as an eyesore, said the area seems like the kind of place where people commit crime and ran into to take refuge.

Wkie said: “We will do anything possible we can to see we reduce the level of crime, and we will not allow these people to continue, because this is an eyesore, so make sure you clear this immediately.

“It is most unfortunate what we are seeing, so there is no notice as you must chase them out now, and clear the entire place.”

Fielding questions from newsmen, Coordinator of FCT city management joint task team, TPL Mukhtar Galadima, said the hitherto encroached place, consists of a proposed dual mode of transportation- the bus and tramo line, transversing the city across almost all the Districts.

Galadima decried that a large portion of the road network stretch became a scavengers’ colony between Mabushi and Katampe Districts of the Territory.

He said: “Looking at the situation now, due to the security challenge all over the country, this present use of the area is not conducive.

“In the masterplan of Abuja there is provision of different hierarchy of road networks, and this part area, it consists of a proposed dual mode of transportation- the bus and tramo line, which transverses the city across almost all the Districts. It transverses from the entire city- starting from Area 1 through Garki Hospital, Social Development Secretariat, behind Ministry of Defense down to Durumi.”

On whether there would be compensation for economic trees, Galadima said: “this is a national issue of importance, which has to do with security, which is everybody’s business, that is why we are not giving consideration for the issue of compensation. And first and foremost lets secure the land and the people. This is why we are moving in at the right time.

“The Hon. Minister of FCT, said immediately after our clearance, the FCDA should come in and ensure that the road corridor is kept cleared to become a temporary access road, so that nobody will come and settle here again.

“So, this is mother of all exercises as it involves demolition, clearance and evacuation.”