By Daniel Tyokua
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ikharo Attah has said demolition of illegal structures in the territory is meant to chase out suspected criminals in their dens.
He said the pulling down of shanties in the city if discontinued will provide avenue for criminals to wax stronger and take over the territory.
Briefing journalists on Monday, Attah said Amnesty International’s call for FCT Administration to stop further demolition of illegal structures, shanties and criminal hideouts in the territory would not work.
He explained that the administration is keen on restoring and preserving the Abuja Master Plan and keep the fastest growing city safe from bad eggs.
According to Attah: “For what I know, I think Amnesty International is addressing a particular case that involves the removal of illegal structures at Gaduwa village in the FCT and not the entire territory like the report suggested.
“The body has not asked that we should stop demolition but be a little careful. FCTA and Amnesty International knows that the removal of the illegal structures, clearing of criminal dens and areas that have become a security threat to the city is for the good of everybody and the defence of human rights, which
Amnesty International represents very strongly.
“If we must work going forward, I don’t think FCTA will stop the removal of illegal structures. Those who build them understand clearly that they are illegal, contravene the master plan and understand the consequences of what they have done. FCTA will sustain the removal of all illegal structures before this administration, during this administration and after this administration.
“The moment you stop the removal, you have grounded the city and the city will become ungovernable. Criminals will take over, there is no plan of stopping, and the Amnesty International has not made that call, they are only addressing a particular issue. For now, we are committed and keen to even look at the removal of all shanties.
“Look at what happened in Kubwa, the building collapsed which was said to have been caused by altercations of the building plan caused the death of two persons and left several injured. These are the things we want to avoid, when Illegalities persist and you don’t tackle it, there will be a problem. So, no going back on demolition of illegal structures and shanties in the nation’s capital.
” The Amnesty International report is a misconception of what happened in Gaduwa village, when we removed the illegal structures, journalists were there, we did not touch the indigenous houses, we were guided by Madaki who was on ground. So stopping the removal of illegal structures as a city is not possible.
“The moment you stop Illegalities in a place, it becomes a safe haven for criminals, it shows the city has ungovern space and will not be good for anyone of us. We will keep removing illegal structures, illegal structures, criminal hideouts and shanties to keep Abuja safe”, he said.
Recall that there was report last week, not The AUTHORITY, that
Amnesty International and some Original Inhabitants of the nation’s capital from Durumi 3 Village held a joint press conference during which Amnesty international was quoted as calling on the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA) to as a matter of urgency put a halt to plans for further Demolition of illegal structures a across the FCT.
