The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned residents against inscribing ‘Gbagyi house’ on illegal structures marked for demolition.
Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, issued the warning when he led a team to demolish illegal structures in Kabusa village on Monday.
Mr Attah stated that while the administration would respect the rights of the original inhabitants to resettlement and compensation, it would not hesitate to pull down all illegal houses belonging to non-indigenes.
“We are not touching houses of the indigenous people; we are clear on that. They have rights to resettlement and compensation.
“But those who are non-indigenes, who have become so mischievous to go and write all over their houses, ‘Gbagyi House’, we see that there and when we get there, we know the indigenous houses.
“We have men who are undercover agents and have been living there and have guided it. So those who are non-indigenes and are writing such inscriptions on their buildings, we will remove all of them.”
The minister’s aide said the team would sustain the demolition of illegal structures in Kabusa until all illegal structures fueling insecurity in the neighbourhood were removed.
“There have been cases of kidnapping around some key estates around here stretching down to the Apo axis, which we will be taking down every illegal settlement around here.
On his part, the Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Community Relations, Isaac David, said the original inhabitants would always welcome any form of development in their communities.
Mr David, however, appealed that the welfare of the indigenous people, which was backed by the constitution, be respected.
Mr David said the government has been sensitising residents through the media to stop buying lands from traditional rulers.
Also, the district head of Kabusa village, Zawu John, appealed to the FCT Administration to suspend the demolition till the end of the rainy season.
(NAN)
