FCT Administration uphold moral standard, rejects bribe to frustrate demolition of illegal structures in Sabo Iddo

……We pay N2,000 to N10,000 to indigenes as protection’ fee, victims lament

Favour Ishember, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has refused to be bribed in order to frustrate the ongoing demolition exercise in Sabo Iddoi, in order to promote sanity in line with the Abuja master plan.

The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task Team on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah who made this revelation Thursday, in Abuja as he resumed demolition of illegal structures in the area, said the exercise was aimed reclaiming the land that belongs to the University of Abuja (UniAbuja)

Regrettably, Attah explained that “those who ought to have move after we came for the first clean up refused to, and are being decieved by the indigenes to contribute money from N2,000 to N10,000 to bribe us not to come back for the demolition, if they had gave us bribe and it has worked why are we demolishing?” He questioned.

“We would not have the moral standard to demolish the illegal structures, if we had collected bribe”

Attah said the exercise was aimed at reclaiming the land that belongs to the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), and also promote sanity in line with the Abuja master plan, not to hurt the residents.

He regretted that the buildings were raised without the consent of FCT Administration, through its Department of Development Control (DDC).

As indigenes appealed to the FCTA to stop the demolition, Attah explained that the sanitation team will decide on the next step of action in Sabo-Iddo after briefing the minister of FCT malam Muhammad Bello on the exercise carried out so far.

On his part, the Joint Security Commander for the exercise, CSP Idowu Azeez had warned officers involved in the operation against human rights abuses.

Azeez charged them to understand that the principle of empathy demands that security personnel do their job while respecting the right of those affected by the demolition.

Amist tears, anonymous victims , said they were misled by the natives to buy the land and build.

According to those affected, the indigene told them that, the lands were genuine because they were the inhabitants.

“The indigene sold the land to us and we built on it, they told us that nothing was going to happen.

“Since the demolition started, the indigenes have been asking us to pay money so that they will go and discuss with FCTA officials, We have been contributing as from N2,000 to N10,000 to give them, yet the demolition is being carried out” they lamented.