Tension in Abuja as soldiers, Wike’s aides clash over building demolition

Chaos erupted in Abuja as soldiers, allegedly acting on the orders of an army general, assaulted development control officials in the Sabon Lugbe area.

The officials were there to demolish illegal structures in compliance with the directives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to reports, the officials, on Wednesday, December 18, had targeted the fence of a property on Plot 416, said to belong to a Major General.

However, upon their arrival, soldiers in a vehicle with obscured license plates blocked the property’s exit, preventing the enforcement team from leaving. The soldiers reportedly issued threats, warning that someone could lose their life that day.

Gunshots were allegedly fired as the soldiers tried to intimidate the development control officials and disrupt their operations.

“During this operation, there was an incident that happened at Plot 416 Sabon Lugbe that belongs a Major General.

“When the removal was going on, the Major General got information of the removal. He sent two soldiers to his house to ascertain the situation.

“Private Jamilu (surname unknown) went straight to the caterpillar operator, cocked his rifle and pointed straight to him to come down or risk being shot immediately.

“He politely came down but was grabbed by the two soldiers who squeezed his neck with his clothes, beat him mercilessly and tore his shirt.

“Private Jamilu pulled his rifle and fired the four tyres of the caterpillar flat. He then called the Major General to come along with more soldiers for re-enforcement, and he came with them in numbers.

“He ordered his men to take Sector Sodangi and his site officer to his house, beat them even right from outside alongside six enforcement officials who where also taken hostage for hours.

“Three Hilux vehicles were taken to the Major General’s house while the remaining vehicles that they could not lay hands on had their tyres flattened with gun shots.

“On receiving the information, the DPO Trademore came to the scene but the Major General refused to take compliments nor listen to her. She left and said she would come back,” Vanguard quoted an official of the department as saying.