Insecurity: Wike Orders Demolition of Scavengers’ Colony

Worried by the spate of insecurity in the nation’s capital, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike has ordered the demolition of scavengers’ colony.
The colony, sited along a road corridor popularly known as ‘Road N12’ in Mabushi District of the FCT, was taken over by scavengers, including mechanics and furniture makers.
While inspecting the area on Tuesday, Wike described the colony as a threat to the security of the city, adding that his administration would strengthen plans to rid the city of criminals.
He stated that such criminal den would no longer be tolerated in the FCT, noting that the colony increased in size due to the thick cashew trees planted by the indigenous people of the FCT for speculative purposes.
The minister warned against planting such trees in areas where the government had mapped out for development, assuring that the government would not pay compensation for the trees.
He ordered the Development Control Department and the Federal Capital Development Authority to clear the entire area, chase out the criminals and take a scope of the road for preliminary works.
The minister informed that the colony provided a hideout for criminals, urging the indigenous communities to stop planting economic trees as the administration would never compensate them.
Wike vowed never to issue demolition notice to occupants of the colony, promising the residents that the government would do everything possible to reduce crime in the FCT.
The Coordinator of FCT City Management Task Team, Mr Mukhtar Galadima assured the minister that the area would be cleared of the illegal structures, including the criminals.
Galadima, who is also the Director, Department of Development Control, noted that the area was proposed for a transit road network that transverses the city to the district.
He lamented that scavengers converted the area into a colony and harboured all kinds of criminals, stressing that illegal activities would seize to exist in the city given the insecurity across the country.
This, he said was the reason that the administration would not pay compensation to the occupants, adding that after the clearing the area, FCDA would commence construction.