FCTA hits bandits’ hideout in Kuje forest, reclaims market

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Wednesday pulled down trees and shanties at a forest in Pasali along Kuje-Gwagwalada road suspected to be bandits’ hideout, and reclaimed the area earmarked for vegetable market and others.

The action came few days after the arrest of four informants behind the attack on the Brigade of Guards in Bwari, and about a month after the Kuje jailbreak, all suburbs of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

This is coming as the ongoing demolition exercise in Kuje entered the third day.

According to the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, the demolition of Pasali forest near Kuje Local Education Authority Secretariat was to clear the area of illegalities and restore the approved plan.

Some residents of the community also told newsmen that bandits always came to the forest to relax before carrying out their heinous acts.

“We have reclaimed the vegetable market and others which have been taken over by other people.

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“The minister of FCT and the commissioner of police are fully aware of the exercise, and we will continue to reclaim the areas designated for special purposes,” Attah said.

Commenting on the development, a resident, David Musa, said the demolition would restore sanity to the area.

“I want to commend the government for the ongoing clearance in Kuje. This place (Pasali, close to LEA secretariat) has been a criminal hideout because of the trees and other things. As this place is cleared, the problem of insecurity in Kuje has been reduced.

“Suspected bandits come here to relax during the day and strike in the night. Like yesterday, about 15 people were kidnapped along the Kwaku area in Kuje, clearing some of these places is a good thing,” he alleged.

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However, those affected by the ongoing demolition of the illegal structures behind prison command on the railway corridor, accused the traditional rulers of selling them the land they built on.

They said the traditional rulers were not supposed to allow them to buy and build on Kuje railway corridor, and in some areas alleged to be illegal.

The affected persons blamed the monarchs for not doing enough to protect their interest but rather inflicting pains on them.