Residents of Ruga Community, situated along the Lugbe-Airport Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop FCT Minister Nyesom Wike from continuing demolitions in the area. The plea follows a recent demolition exercise by a Special Ministerial Task Team, which dismantled makeshift homes constructed from scrap materials, citing that the structures obstructed a rail corridor and were built on others’ land plots.
FCT Security Mandate Secretary Adamu Gwary, represented by Peter Olumuji of the FCT Command and Control Unit, justified the demolition by explaining that the illegal settlements posed a potential safety risk for residents using the Abuja Metro Line. However, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, speaking on behalf of affected residents, argued that the demolitions threaten over 15,000 residents, many of whom are low-income workers displaced from conflict-prone areas such as Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Adeyanju condemned the exercise, stating, “Many residents here are barely surviving and contribute to the community as builders, painters, and craftsmen. There is no justification for this demolition.” He highlighted the essential role residents play in supporting local security efforts and urged President Tinubu to consider the impact on vulnerable communities.
Social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, echoed concerns, warning that displacing these residents could lead to increased insecurity in the FCT. “The consequences of this will cost us all,” he said. “Displacing these people without viable alternatives could lead to desperation, which might increase crimes like theft and violence.”
During the protest, residents held signs with messages such as “Wike, stop demolishing our houses and giving them to your friends” and “Stop demolitions.”
