The people of Dutse Pe, Dutse Sokale, Dutse Makaranta and Dutse Alhaji of Buwari Area council, one of the largest indigenous settlements in the FCT-Abuja have cried out against an ongoing injustice of house demolition which they believed was the handiwork of some politicians who have developed interest in acquiring the entire area which they have lived for years.
DailyPost has gathered that houses in the said areas have been marked and earmarked for demolition by the staff of the Abuja Development Control, with the singular reason that they were built on an existing layout, hence residents who are majorly indigenes of Abuja have been asked to quit their land as well as their houses. This development, the people have termed the highest point of victimization and injustice being meted on them in a 21st century Nigeria where the rights of the common man should be protected instead of being grossly violated.
DailyPost took a trip to Sokale, one of the communities marked for demolition, and residents have hinted that some politicians whose interests were to evict them and take over their land were the brain behind the recent demolition notice, affirming that they have been attracted to the area due to the beautiful topography of the community.
Our correspondent has reported that over one million people will be displaced if the demolition exercise is carried out in the area.
Speaking with some residents at Dutse-Sokale, we were told that the people of Dutse have been living on their land all their lives, even before the creation of the FCT, and they doubt if there is an existing layout as claimed by the FCT administration.
A resident, Mr. Emmanuel Ken said “We have not been affected by any layout. Some people have decided to just frustrate us, but we will tell them that before they moved into the FCT, we were here. It is unfair to just wake up one day and decide to send inhabitants of a place out of their land. Where do you want them to go to? On the hill or where? This is something that shouldn’t happen anywhere in the world. If the government is claiming that there is an existing layout, let them tell us how much was paid to the inhabitants for resettlement. History will judge all those responsible for this call. “
Another resident, Mr. Pius said “ You can’t kill a man because he has got a long neck. We are fortunate to have settled here before the creation of FCT. We cannot move one inch further than here. We have our rights protected in the land Use Act like every other Nigerian, and the best anyone can do for us now is to let peace reign and avoid any kind of frivolous attempt of marking and demolition of houses here, as we will resist any of such attempt.”
Also speaking, a resident Engr. Ibrahim Gwazo said “most people who reside here are civil servants who work for the government as well as local farmers. People here also have existing businesses they are doing, schools have been built, hospitals have been established to take care of residents, markets have been developed, and the people have been living peacefully. Most of the residents here are indigenes. One wonders what is happening. How do you displace over 1 million people? What is wrong with this country? We are law-abiding citizens of this great country. We have been so supportive to the government of the day. We have never failed to exercise our franchise rights. We wonder why the same government we voted will wake up one day to displace us of all we have built for years. We doubt this is coming from the government; some people are really after us, and definitely not the government.
Speaking with the Sokale Chief, he said “ You see, we all know the number of layouts that have been made out of Dutse. Everybody knows that. We were all witnesses to the case of Dutse Sagawari Layout. We know that there was litigation over the land, which was finally resolved, and compensations were paid to the affected communities. How come, we have a development of this nature coming up after several years? This is unfair and unjust. We will resist any of such move. We are human beings. I want to advise the government to call the Development Control people to order as their move, if implemented would be responsible for several deaths as many of us will die out of frustration. We have been here even before FCT was created, and we have been law abiding. ”
In a three page petition written on behalf of Dutse residents by their solicitors titled “LETTER OF COMPLAINT AGAINST DEMOLITION OF HOUSES AT DUTSE PE, DUTSE SOKALE, DUTSE MAKARANTA, AND DUTSE ALHAJI, the indigenes have cried to the government and the FCT administration to suspend the intended demolition as such action will bring untold hardship to residents of the areas. They appealed that as citizens of Nigeria, they deserve to be fully protected by the laws of the country. They equally asked the government to handle the matter as quickly as possible with a human face, considering the psychological trauma the marking of houses must have generated among residents and indigenes. They had asked the government and other well-meaning individuals to wade into the matter and resolve it. “We are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan, and the FCT Minister to use his good offices to suspend the intended demolition of our homes. We have children, we have wives, we do businesses, we farm to take care of our people here. The untold hardship this displacement will cause is what the government should first of all consider even before we begin to look at the legal implication of the present predicament. At this point when the people are struggling to cater for their needs, the issue of demolition should not even come to the fore. We have nowhere to go to. This is our home, the home for our children. They all grew up here. We appeal to be treated as citizens of this country and not as second-class citizens. We will continue to be law abiding irrespective of the setback as we have always done.” They had avowed.
Attached are scanned copies of the letter addressed to the Director of Abuja Development Control.
The FCT Minister, the Chairman, Bwari Area Council, the Director, Abuja Metropolitan Board, the Zonal land Manager, Bwari Area Council were all copied.
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