Abuja Demolitions: Wike Meets His Match

Emissaries of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike were on Wednesday, December 18 rebuffed while trying to enforce part demolition of the building of a serving army general.

There was chaos in Abuja on December 18, 2024, when soldiers allegedly following the orders of a Major General clashed with development control officials who were trying to demolish illegal structures in the Sabon Lugbe area of the Federal Capital.

The officials were carrying out the demolition on the instruction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The demolition operation targeted the fence of a property located on Plot 416, which is reportedly owned by the Major General. However, upon the officials’ arrival, they were blocked by soldiers in a vehicle with obscured license plates. The soldiers prevented the officials from leaving the property, issuing threats that someone would be killed that day.

As tensions rose, gunshots were fired in an attempt to intimidate the development officials. A source explained the situation: “During this operation, there was an incident at Plot 416 Sabon Lugbe, which belongs to a Major General. When the removal was taking place, the Major General heard about it. He sent two soldiers to his house to check what was happening.”

One of the soldiers, a Private, went straight to the caterpillar operator, pointed his rifle at him, and demanded that he get off the machine or risk being shot. The operator complied, but the soldiers allegedly grabbed him, beat him, and tore his shirt. The private then fired at the caterpillar’s four tires, deflating them, before calling the Major General for reinforcements.

The Major General arrived with more soldiers and ordered them to take the site officer, Sector Sodangi, and other enforcement officials to his house. They were reportedly beaten and held hostage for several hours. The soldiers also damaged several vehicles, flattening their tires with gunshots.

In response to the situation, the DPO of Trademore arrived at the scene, but the Major General refused to speak with her or accept any formal report. The DPO left, stating she would return later to handle the matter. The situation caused major disruptions, and the development officials were left shaken by the encounter.

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