NAN-H-111
Protest
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Hundreds of Abuja indigenes, on Thursday staged a protest for alleged constant intimidation, harassment and extortion by men and officers of the Nigerian Army.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the indigenes were at the FCTA to see the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to lodge their complaints.
NAN reported that the indigenes also accused the Army of illegally claiming the title of Tungan Maje Community, Zuba, without valid title documents from constituted authority.
They equally alleged that the army disobeyed court orders issued against it from taking further action on the land.
NAN also recalled that the protest came few months after major controversy broke out over alleged Army takeover of premises of a construction firm, Karkaatar Engineering Limited, in Maitama District, Abuja.
The indigenes carrying placards with various inscriptions which includes, “Original inhabitants of the FCT are human beings that deserve respect ‘and ‘’Nigerian Army, leave our land’’
The spokesman of the protesters, Alhaji Jibrin Mamman, said that the area in dispute was known as Zuba 11in Gwagwalada Area Council.
According to him, it is designed and allocated to various individuals, companies and government institutions.
He said the organisations include Customary and Area Courts for the purpose of administration of justice within the community.
Mamman said that the disputed land accommodated Federal Road Safety Commission, Zuba office, Zuba Divisional Police Station and Federal College of Education, Zuba.
According to him, there are lot of business premises in the area, where people invested their hard-earned money and earning a living from.
Mamman noted that any attempt to illegally displace the people would render many homeless while crimes would be on the rise.
“We are here to complain. What we want to present to the minister is the act of declaring us illegal settlement. The army has started destroying our crops.
“That place is a very large land and there is a court injunction on the matter.
“Does it mean we have no courts and rule of law in this country, how can they declare us illegal occupants, When did we go to the military to rent the land.’’
The spokesman said that they had written a separate letter addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, dated Oct. 19, 2016.
Counsel to the indigenes, Mr I.Y.Melah said the action of the Army in serving a quit notice to the indigenes amounted to disobedience to court order and intimidation.
A Director in the Permanent Secretary’s office, Samuel Atang, who received the protesters on behalf of the minister, said that a committee was already working on the issue quietly.
According to him, we want to have heart to heart discussion to articulate the issue. The issue is being considered. (NAN)
KM/MO/OFN
Edited by Morayo Omolade// Felix Nwadioha