By Adenike Lawal
The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has condemned the unauthorized demolition of homes in Karsana II, an indigenous community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling it an illegal and inhumane act.
Speaking to journalists after visiting the affected area on Saturday, Maikalangu described the action as a violation of the rights of indigenous residents.
He accused the developer, allegedly linked to Oceanic Properties and Equilibrium Concept, of executing the demolition without court orders, notice, or compensation.
“I am deeply disturbed by what I’ve seen. Karsana II is not a squatter settlement, it predates the FCT.
“These are Nigerian citizens with ancestral rights to this land. Their homes were bulldozed in their absence, without any legal backing,” Maikalangu said.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for urgent intervention and called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide relief for displaced residents, many of whom are now sleeping outdoors.
Maikalangu warned that the developer must be held accountable. “This is calculated oppression. We will go to court, and he must pay for the damage,” he vowed, adding that such actions fuel insecurity and undermine government efforts to protect indigenous communities.
He praised President Tinubu’s commitment to respecting FCT natives, referencing a recent remark at Gishiri, and urged consistency in protecting settlers’ rights.
Backing the chairman’s position, the Karsana Youth Secretary, Dikko Jezhi, said the demolition was traumatic and unjust. “We were at work when we heard our homes were being destroyed. No notice, no documents, just armed force. This is the land of our ancestors. Now we are left with nothing.”
Jezhi warned of growing frustration among youths. “We don’t want to take desperate actions, but the government must step in, compensate us, and restore our dignity.”
The demolition reportedly affected homes, churches, and the palace of the community chief, leaving widespread destruction and displacement in its wake.
