By Remi Johnson
No fewer than 19 protesters have been arrested by the FCTA Joint Task Force Team, for attempting to disrupt activities of officials of AMMC- Development Control at its Wuse Zone 6 premises at the early hours of today.
The Taskforce team on City Sanitation which dispersed the protesters said they were angry over the demolition of a Mechanic Village in Kubwa, by officials of the AMMC Department of Development Control.
The Director of the Department, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, told journalists that workers were going about their official assignments when the protesters besieged the premises.
Galadima said that 19 of the protesters were arrested for the violent disruption of peace in the area.
“We were having a meeting in a conference hall when we heard some noises. We decided to come and see what was happening and I saw some people with protest placards.Some of the people were talking about Kubwa mechanic village where they own shops in the village but were demolished by Development Control.But what proof do they have that they have allocations inside the area? Galadima questioned.
Galadima who explained that the Department ordered the demolition of the village, noted that the sponsors of the protest built what they called a mechanic village inside someone’s property.
He said the action became necessary following series of complaints of encroachment in the particular space by the rightful owners.
The Director said the Department would recommend the prosecution of the culprits,for breach of peace in the area.
“This is a breach of peace, and they should be prosecuted.We are also going to find out who among our officers gave out the area for the development of a mechanic village. The officers involved must be dealt with accordingly,” Galadima vowed.
Also speaking, the Secretary, FCTA’s Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, said that the task force was out on enforcement duty at Banex area when the distress call about the protest came in from Development Control.
“We abandoned what we were doing and dashed to the scene immediately and on getting there, we saw the protesters attempting to vandalise the premises, vehicles, and assault development control officers.We have been able to arrest 19 of them and they will be taken to Utako Police Division for proper investigation and possible prosecution,”.
In a related development, 19 vehicles and a motorcyclist were caught around Banex junction axis for illegal parking, leading to obstruction of traffic in the area.
Head of Operations in FCT VIO, Deborah Osho while fielding questions from journalists, expressed worry that the traffic congestion on Banex road was caused by illegal commercial taxi drivers.
Edited By Grace Namiji
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