FCTA starts new demolition in Abuja and arrests two land swindlers

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) detained two suspects on Thursday for allegedly selling illegally obtained land plots to unwary Ungwan Zaki locals in Abuja’s Jahi District.

There will be no compensation for the victims, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, FCTA, declared in Abuja during the demolition of unlawful structures in the Jahi village.

The accused, Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim, also known as Baban Kalifa, and Prophet Emmanuel Ayisa, were to face legal charges, according to Galadima.

“These are criminals’ antics, so I’m not surprised, but we’ve warned the locals and citizens about this kind of ugly situation,” I said.

“Every piece of land in Abuja has been planned for something, so we have urged people to be careful. We also cautioned locals against purchasing land from tribal chiefs. You must approach the proper authority.

“You need to carry out a due diligence search even if you wish to purchase land from someone. That these people are victims of circumstance is regrettable, he remarked.

He emphasised that the administration would not compensate them for their loss and recommended individuals to contact the correct authorities while looking for any property they might want to purchase.

I understand their suffering, but whatever it is, it is illegal, so we are taking it down, the director remarked.

“Cleaning and sanitising the city is an ongoing activity. We observed a lot of characters as we entered, so it’s obvious that this area resembles a criminal nest, he remarked.

Hassan Ogbole, the Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, stated that the space was set aside for a road corridor connecting the Kado and Jahi Districts.

Ogbole claimed that the enforcement team had been to the location five times and added that after each destruction, people frequently went back and rebuilt.

He predicted that it would be difficult for the trees to grow again after their considerable destruction.

The arrest, according to Mr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA, was based on intelligence reports from security agencies that discovered individuals were paying money to bribe the enforcement team.

The perpetrator was identified by security personnel, according to Olumoji, who also stated that the FCT Command Commissioner of Police has directed a thorough investigation and punishment of the fraudsters.

Florence Emedo, one of the victims, claimed that she purchased the property roughly two years ago after receiving assurances that it wouldn’t be demolished and that she could stay there for ten years.

The traditional chief of the region, Zaki of Kado, was informed that the land, which was initially being sold for N75,000, was known to him in its entirety.

“Baban Kalifa promised us that nothing would happen, adding that they had a source inside FCTA who could guarantee us that nothing would occur; yet, on occasion, we would simply pay them money.

We each gave N10,000 as they requested us to collect money so they could go to the office, the woman claimed.

Ms. Owadia Valentina, a different victim, claimed that she paid N450,000 for the plan, while others paid between N100,000 and N200,000.

He informed us that there is already a contract on the land and that we can stay for ten years.

She explained, “I just painted two months ago, and I moved in October of last year.

The suspect, who asserted that they had not sold land to anyone nearby, refuted the accusation.

Yusuf Ibrahim made it clear that he never solicited money from anyone in order to profit himself.

However, he admitted to taking money from the locals and claimed it was to pay the Gbagyi people, who ran the cashew plantation where the lands were sold, compensation.

Prophet Ayisa also concurred that he and Baban Khalifa met and then solicited donations from those whose homes had been destroyed, but not in order to placate FCTA officials who had objected to the demolition of their neighbourhood.