Residents Protest Wike’s Demolition Of Abuja Homes

Residents of Ruga, a settlement along Airport Road in Abuja, protested on Friday against the demolition of their homes, which was ordered by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The minister had directed the task force “Operation Sweep” to clear Ruga and other areas in the capital as part of efforts to tackle what the government considers nuisances and criminal activities.

The protest was led by activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, alongside Vincent Martins Otse, who is also known as VeryDarkMark. Both condemned the demolition, claiming it was done with harmful intent. Reports indicated that the task force not only demolished homes but also set many of them on fire, worsening the situation for the residents.

Adeyanju urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter and consider the hardships faced by those displaced by the operation. He pointed out that many of the residents had already been forced from their homes in Borno and other northern states due to insecurity. He said, “There is no justification for this demolition. We are using this medium to appeal to the president to consider the plight of the displaced residents, who are barely surviving.”

He also explained that many of the residents are artisans struggling to make a living. He called the demolitions excessive and urged President Tinubu to prevent further harassment of the people. “Most of the residents here were forced out of their homes in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe due to insecurity,” Adeyanju added. “These demolitions are excessive, and Mr. President needs to act to prevent further harassment of the people.”

Joining the residents to protest the Abuja demolition, Adeyanju further warned the government that peace could only be achieved if the poor are allowed to live without fear. “We are sounding a warning to those in government that peace is only achievable if the poor are allowed to live peacefully. When the poor cannot sleep, it affects everyone,” he said. He called on President Tinubu to intervene and stop Wike from demolishing homes and reallocating the land to wealthy individuals. He argued that there was no public interest in the demolition, as the community is far from the main road.

VeryDarkMan also expressed concern about the demolition’s impact, calling it strange and harmful to the city. “This is strange. The repercussions of this will have a heavy toll on Abuja,” he said. He added that the area destroyed was not near the main road and that the residents had been left homeless during a time of national hardship. He criticized the government for evicting people without providing compensation, saying, “It is sad that the elite think the poor are not part of society.”

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG