By Daniel Tyokua
The Joint Task Force Team of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on City Sanitation, has arrested 19 miscreants over attack on Abuja Metropolitan Management Council office in Wuse Zone 6.
The hoodlums stormed the premises in the early hours of Monday, over the demolition of a mechanic village in Kubwa, by the officials of the AMMC Department of Development Control.
Addressing journalists after the incident, Director of the department, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, said the workers in the building were going about their official assignments when the protesters besieged the premises.
He said the violence protesters were arrested fo disruption of peace in the area.
“We were having a meeting in a conference hall when we heard some noise. We decided to come and see what was happening and I saw some people with placards demonstrating.
“Some of the people were talking about Kubwa mechanic village where they own shops in the village but were demolished by Development Control because of illegality.
“But what proof do they have that they have allocations inside the area,” he said.
Galadima said that the sponsors of the protest built what they called a mechanic village inside someone’s property, adding that Development Control ordered the demolition of the village.
He added that beyond building on illegal property, the action became necessary following a series of complaints of encroachment in the particular space by the rightful owners.
The director, who described the protest as “simply thuggery”, added that the department would recommend the prosecution of the culprit.
“This is a breach of peace, and they should be prosecuted.
“We are also going to find out who among our officers gave out the area for the development of a mechanic village. The officers involved must be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
On his part, the Secretary, FCTA’s Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, said the task force was out on enforcement duty when the distress call came in from development control over the protest.
“We abandoned what we were doing and dash to the scene immediately and on getting here, we saw the protesters attempting to vandalise the premises, vehicles, and assault development control officers.
“We have been able to arrest 19 of them and will be taken to Utako Police Division for proper investigation and possible prosecution,” he added.
