Wike Negotiates With Ruga Residents, Vows To Demolish All Shanties

By: Wisdom Acka

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, on Sunday evening, paid a surprise visit to Ruga, a settlement in Kukwaba District, Abuja.

Recall that authorities of the FCT Administration, penultimate week, leveled all shanties that made up the illegal settlement.

The action prompted widely reported protests against the demolition exercise as the displaced residents claimed they had no where to go to, leading to the Minister’s visit, after an emergency security meeting.

After inspection of the demolished area and taking of briefs from relevant bodies, the Minister re-stated that the settlement was a security risk as it served as hide out for criminal elements.

He informed the displaced persons that his administration was duty-bound to protect the people, even as it was equally concerned about the welfare of all residents.

This is as the Minister told the residents to nominate five among themselves to liaise with a seven-man team FCT Administration officials and security agencies with a view to finding a lasting solution to the plight of the displaced persons.

He vowed that no amount of intimidation, blackmail or insults would deter him from carrying out his responsibility, including removal of all shanties across the Territory.

Earlier, spokesman for the community, Abba Garu, revealed that 22 demolition exercises, had in the past, been carried out on the settlement, but they the people always returned.

Noting that the community was a mini-Nigeria as it had people from different tribes, Garu pleaded with the administration for compassion and assistance; adding: “We are not dragging land with government, but we are begging the FCT to assist us find a place to stay. We are not asking for more than that.”