On Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) removed illegal structures built on flood plains and under high-tension wires at the Gishiri community in the Katempe district.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board and FCT Department of Development Control officials demolished the buildings under the tight security control of the military, police and SSS.

When FCTA officials rolled in the bulldozer and started demolition, occupants of the buildings broke down in tears as they rushed to evacuate their belongings.

The area under the Katampe district was last visited for demolition in 2006. Since then, the residents have continued to build under high tension and on water channels despite warnings from the government.

Most victims acknowledged that the structures were marked in March, April and early May but feigned ignorance of the several notices.

One of the victims, who did not want her name mentioned, said, “I packed into this area in March 2022 and just renewed my rent in March 2023, which cost N400,000.00, and where can I pack to now? If I had known, I wouldn’t have come to this area.”

Briefing journalists, Ikharo Attah, a senior special assistant to the FCT minister of FCT on monitoring, inspection and enforcement, said the demolition was necessitated by the need to reclaim the area for infrastructure development.

He said the victims took advantage of the area’s proximity to the FCC and flouted the Abuja master plan rules, turning the area into a haven for bad eggs.

Mr Attah said some of the unauthorised structures in the area were hideouts for drug dealers and suspected criminals that terrorise Maitama and Asokoro residents at night.

“We came here today to attack the triple illegalities associated with squatter settlements, the criminals’ den inside the cashew plantation in Gishiri, where we recovered cocaine and other hard drugs,” stated Mr Attah.

The ministerial aide added, “Although there were tears and lamentations, we are not done yet as we are just warming up in Gishiri, and this is the first time the bulldozers have come into Gishiri since the days of Nasir El-Rufai as FCT minister.”

(NAN)