By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday dismantled illegal structures suspected to be criminals’ camp in Kwali, an outskirt of Abuja.
This is in continuation of it intensive crackdown on environmental nuisances that pose security threats to lives and property in the territory.
Officials of the FCT Administration stormed the notorious black spots adjacent Federal Government College, in Kwali Area Council.
The structures demolished were multiple illegal structures, mainly shanties built with zinc and woods used for block moulding, selling of petroleum products, food, drinking joints, all operating under an electric high tension wire in the area.
Others demolished were makeshift structures and clusters of kiosks erected by artisans, POS operators and petty traders inside the premises of uncompleted shopping plaza, bearing FCDA/DC demolition notice dated 5/8/2020, along the corridors of Kwali axis of the Abuja-Lokoja express way.
It was observed that the affected occupants were allowed time to remove their wares and belongings, before the bulldozer cleared the structures.
Recall that FCTA had recently stormed Gwarimpa District and Kugbo, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) demolishing multiple illegal structures, allegedly built on road corridors, following months of warnings with valid quit notices.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, who led the enforcement team, said the place in recent time became a serious security concern to the government, as several criminal activities were traceable there.
He said it was discovered that these shanties were heavily harbouring criminals, leaving the government with no other choice than to come and clear them.
Attah said: “What informs the decision to storm Kwali, an area which I think we haven’t visited in several decades is the fact that we have security concerns here.
“Three months ago, we had an extremely ugly incident, as this particular dangerous spot, where the police and other security agencies had tried to come in, to carry out a raid against criminals, they had exchange of gun fire with some persons here.
“Although they made massive arrests, but we discovered that these shanties are heavily harbouring criminals. Because they are illegal structures, we had to come and clear them.
“There are several issues here about safety of lives and property, as whatever built here just directly under the power high tension cable amidst several other illegalities.”
Reacting to the development, one of the affected persons, Ayuba Aliyu, who deals on POS and Phone accessories in the place, said it has dislodged about five hundred people living and trading there, free of charge.
He however, appealed for the government to provide succour to the affected persons, who are mainly youth, so as to prevent them from taking into any form of crime, given the prevailing insecurity situation.
