Protest Erupts in Abuja Over Demolition of Homes by FCT Minister Wike

 

Residents of Ruga, a settlement along Airport Road in Abuja, staged a protest on Friday against the demolition of their homes by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The demolition was part of the minister’s initiative, *Operation Sweep*, aimed at clearing areas within the capital deemed as nuisances and hotspots for criminal activities.

The protest was led by prominent lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, alongside Vincent Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMark. They accused Wike of carrying out the demolitions with malicious intent, claiming the task force destroyed numerous homes and property worth millions of naira.

Adeyanju expressed concern for the displaced residents, many of whom had fled conflict zones in northern Nigeria, including Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider the hardships faced by these displaced individuals, most of whom are artisans struggling to survive. He condemned the demolitions as excessive and unjustified, urging the president to intervene and prevent further harm to the vulnerable population.

“We are appealing to President Tinubu to intervene and stop these demolitions. These people have already suffered so much, having been displaced due to insecurity in the north. There is no reason to demolish their homes now,” Adeyanju said.

Otse also criticized the demolitions, pointing out that the area being cleared was not close to the main road, and that the affected residents were not being compensated. He warned that this action would have serious consequences for the city, highlighting the inequality between the rich and the poor. “The elite are treating the poor as if they don’t matter. These people are now homeless amidst already severe economic hardship,” he lamented.