By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
Some villagers and hoodlums at Magaji PE community under Jabi District in Abuja, have vehemently prevented the official of the FCT Administration’s Department of Development Control from removing illegal buildings under high tension in the area.
The villagers comprising young men, women and the old turned out in large number angrily and vowed that if the officials of FCT insist to go ahead and remove the buildings they will stone them to death.
Sensing the trouble and tension that were already heightened in the area, the officials of Development Control Department along with few security men tactically withdrew from the area in order to avoid total breakdown of law and order.
Reacting to the development, the director of the department, Tlp. Mukhtar Galadima, described the situation as very unfortunate and completely unacceptable by the FCT Administration.
He explained that the department earlier issued a vacation notice to those occupying illegal structures built under high tension in Magaji PE community.
Galadima stated that by the rules and regulations of Urban and Regional Planning and Abuja Master Plan, the department would not allow any building under the high tension, noting that the whole essence of government was to protect lives and properties.
“It is really unfortunate what happened here today and we decided to tactically withdrew to avoid causing more chaos and crisis.
“So the best thing for us is to withdraw from the exercise pending when tension is down and then we adequately prepared then we can go back and do what is necessary.
” The operation is part of our weekend programme activities, where we sanitise the city particularly where we believe there are issues of security challenges or issue of hygiene and other aspects of urbanisation, so we try to move in.
” We have done that at Apo, some parts of resettlement centre B and other parts of the city. Even last week, we came here and started the operation but because time was against us we decided to return today.”
The director stated that the department was not trying to be high handed, rather making efforts to save lives and protect properties of citizens.
“One fundamental issue that people should know is that it not because we are high handedness rather we are trying to save lives and protect properties because right over the village is high tension cable that passed over the village.
“And there are some building under the high tension which we try as soon as possible to remove them under the tension so that is what we intended to do this morning.
” But unfortunately the occupants of the house under the high tension both indigenes and none indigenes mobilized to challenge the authority but what needs to be done must be done.
” The essence of government is to protect lives and properties and by our rules and regulations we are not to allow any building under high tension, we will do what is to be done and we will definitely do it.”
Galadima revealed that when next the department would go back to remove the buildings under high tension, it would put adequate security and logistics arrangements.
“We earlier issued vacation notice to them and we even called the Head of the village for a meeting so that we engage them and tell them why we are doing the operation.
” We are not going to remove the indigenous community; what we are removing is the buildings under the high tension and threes that are becoming hideout for criminals in the area.”