Residents of Ruga, a settlement along Airport Road in Abuja, protested on Friday against the demolition of their homes ordered by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
According to the reporter, Wike had earlier directed a task force, named “Operation Sweep,” to demolish Ruga and other communities in the capital in an effort to eliminate perceived nuisances and criminal elements.
Leading the protest, prominent lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, alongside Vincent Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMark, claimed that the demolition was conducted with harmful intent.
Adeyanju voiced his concerns, highlighting that the task force burned numerous homes and destroyed property valued in the millions of naira.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take into account the struggles of impoverished people forced from their homes in Borno and other northern states due to regional insecurity.
Adeyanju stated, “This demolition is unjustifiable. We’re using this platform to urge the president to recognize the hardships of the displaced residents, who are barely surviving.”
Many of the residents here were forced out from their homes in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe because of insecurity.
“Most are artisans striving to earn a livelihood. These demolitions are excessive, and the President must intervene to stop further harassment of the people.
“We’re warning those in power that peace is only possible when the poor are allowed to live in peace. If the poor cannot rest, it affects everyone.”
Tinubu should intervene and restrain Wike from demolishing people’s homes only to reassign the land to the wealthy.
“There’s no justification for tearing down these homes and giving the land to the rich. There’s no significant public benefit, as this community is far from the main road.”
Otse added, “This is unusual. The consequences of this action will heavily impact Abuja. The demolished area is nowhere near the main road, and these people have been left homeless amid the country’s current economic hardships.”
They are evicting these people without compensating them. It is disheartening that the elite think the poor are not part of society.”
