By Ben Adoga
There was confusion in the Utako area of Abuja Wednesday as scavengers, popularly known as ‘baban bola’ and residents clashed during the demolition exercise to remove shanties and other illegal structures.
Some residents who experienced the conflict described the situation as “hellish.”
The conflict started when scavengers wanted to cart away properties, while residents wanted to salvage their property when bulldozers invaded Utako village.
The scavengers who defied the presence of security operatives at the demolition site were seen snatching different materials from their lawful owners who were overwhelmed by the pains of the demolition.
Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima explained that the clean-up exercise was not just a routine one, but a special operation to remove all illegal structures and pave way for the original allottees to regain their land.
Galadima noted that quit notice had been given to the squatters long ago to enable them to relocate before the demolition date.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah said the operation was also targeted at addressing perennial traffic and criminal activities in the area.
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Attah who also doused the tension generated over speculation that the homes of the indigenous people within the village would be demolished, assured that only illegal structures on the land allocated to the FCT Police Command were earmarked for demolition.
He also added that the clean-up exercise would help to restore the environmental sanitation and aesthetic of the Utako District.
” We are only removing the illegal shanties to reclaim the land for the original allottees. We are not demolishing the houses of indigenous people.
” The clean-up will also help to address the disturbing traffic gridlock and also criminal activities of miscreants in the place, Attah said.
