Some villagers and hoodlums at Magaji PE community, under Jabi District in Abuja, on Sunday prevented officials of the FCT Administration’s Department of Development Control from removing illegal buildings under high tension wires in the area.

The villagers, comprising young men, women and the old, turned out in large numbers and angrily vowed that if officials of the FCT insist on going ahead and removing the buildings, they will stone them.

Sensing the trouble and tension were already heightening in the area, the officials, along with their few security men, tactically withdrew to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

Reacting to the development, the director of the department, Mukhtar Galadima, described the situation as unfortunate and completely unacceptable by the FCT Administration.

He explained that the department had earlier issued vacation notices to those occupying illegal structures built under high tension wires in the Magaji PE community.

Mr Galadima stated that by the rules and regulations of Urban and Regional Planning and Abuja Master Plan, the department would not allow any building under the high-tension wires, noting that the whole essence of government is to protect lives and properties.

“What happened here today is really unfortunate. We decided to tactically withdraw to avoid causing more chaos and crisis.

“So the best thing for us was to withdraw from the exercise, pending when tension is down, and then we will be adequately prepared to go back and do what is necessary.

“The operation is part of our weekend programme of activities, where we sanitise the city, particularly where we believe there are issues of security challenges or issues of hygiene and other aspects of urbanisation, so we try to move in.

“We have done that at Apo, some part of resettlement centre B and other parts of the city. Even last week, we came here and started the operation, but because time was against us, we moved out and decided to return today,” he said.

The director stated that the department, in all of this, is making efforts to save lives and protect the properties of citizens.

Mr Galadima revealed that when next the department would go back to remove the buildings, it would make adequate security and logistics arrangements.

“We earlier issued vacation notices to them, and we even called the Head of the village for a meeting so that we can engage them and tell them why we are doing the operation.

“We are not going to remove the indigenous community. What we are removing are the buildings under the high tension and trees that are becoming high out for criminals in the area.” 

(NAN)