A protest was recently led by lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, along with Vincent Martins Otse (popularly known as VeryDarkMark), against the demolition of homes in Ruga, a settlement located along Airport Road in Abuja. The protest was sparked by the actions of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who had ordered a task force called “Operation Sweep” to demolish homes in Ruga and other parts of Abuja.
The demolitions were part of a plan to clear the city of what Wike referred to as nuisances and criminal activities. However, the demolition has caused a lot of distress among the residents. Many homes were destroyed, with some even set on fire, leaving families without a place to live. The residents of Ruga, who are now homeless, are calling for help and support.
Deji Adeyanju expressed deep concern over the destruction, pointing out that many of the displaced people are already vulnerable, having been forced to flee insecurity in northern states like Borno. He also called on President Bola Tinubu to take notice of the situation and consider the suffering of those affected by the demolitions.
This protest highlights the struggles of those who have lost their homes and the need for urgent attention to the challenges faced by the less privileged in the country.
Adeyanju said: “There is no justification for this demolition. We are using this medium to appeal to the president to consider the plight of the displaced residents, who are barely surviving.
“Most of the residents here were forced out of their homes in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe due to insecurity.
“Most of them are artisans trying to make a living. These demolitions are excessive, and Mr President needs to act to prevent further harassment of the people.
“We are sounding a warning to those in government that peace is only achievable if the poor are allowed to live peacefully. When the poor cannot sleep, it affects everyone.
“Tinubu should call Wike to order and stop him from demolishing people’s homes and reallocating the land to rich people.
“There is no justification for demolishing these homes and allocating them to the rich. There is no overriding public interest here because the community is far from the main road.”
On his part, Otse stated: “This is strange. The repercussions of this will have a heavy toll on Abuja. This area that has been demolished is not near the main road. These people have been rendered homeless amid the ongoing hardship in the country.
“They are evicting these people without compensating them. It is sad that the elite think the poor are not part of society.”
