Abuja: Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, has decried the recent demolition of property in the Federal Capital Territory's (FCT) Karsana Community by a developer, Oceanic Properties and Equilibrium Concept. Maikalangu made this known on Saturday in Abuja after inspecting the extent of the demolition and its effect on the livelihoods of the residents. He described the developer's action as a grave injustice against the community, and vowed to seek redress for them in court.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the area council boss stated that the people of the community are legitimate indigenous Gbagyi people of the FCT, who are entitled to full compensation for the damage caused to them. 'Legal action will be pursued by the community and AMAC authorities. Official reports are being submitted to senior government officials,' he said.
Maikalangu appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike for immediate intervention to address the situation. He also appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to intervene toward their immediate resettlement, adding that many families had been rendered homeless.
He emphasized that the demolition was carried out without any prior warning, court notice, or compensation. Maikalangu vowed that no construction work would take place on the disputed site until the displaced residents were compensated and resettled.
Mr Dikko Jezhi, the community's Youth Secretary, shared the trauma experienced by the people due to the demolition, noting that residents were at work when their homes were demolished with police escort, leaving families without advanced notice and without their possessions. Generations of indigenous families, including the elderly, are now left stranded.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that critical structures, including the chief's palace and a church, were among the buildings destroyed, leaving the community in despair.