Abuja bloodbath: FCT identifies hideouts, mounts surveillance

•Apo, Gwarinpa, Utako/Jabi top list
•JNI, ACF call for probe

By FRED ITUA, Abuja and ABDULGAFAR  ALABELEWE, Kaduna

As residents of Apo Legislative Quarters and environs are still in shock over the invasion of a twin duplex in the neigbourhood by security operatives, which led to the killing of suspected Boko Haram members, the Federal Capital Development (FCT) administration has put 430 uncompleted buildings identified as potential hideouts under watch.

Last Friday a combined team of Department of State Service (DSS) operatives and the army had stormed a uncompleted twin duplex located in one compound to fish out members of Boko Haram. A gun battled had ensued, leading to the killing of over 10 Boko Haram suspects. Scores of others were injured.

Spokesperson of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, had stated that the operation followed intelligent reports that Boko Haram members camped in he buildings.

It was gathered that the DSS was alerted by owner of the uncompleted buildings, where several homeless tricycle (Keke NAPEP) riders and other artisans of northern extraction had taken refuge.

Daily Sun gathered that following the incident, the FCT administration has beamed its searchlight on uncompleted buildings in Abuja. According to the director, FCT Development Control, Alhaji Yahaya Yusuf, the exercise has revealed that there are at least 430 uncompleted buildings scattered across Abuja metropolis, which could be potential terror spots.

According to Yahaya, “we have identified over 430 uncompleted buildings within Abuja. We also conduct surveys to find out uncompleted buildings that have some defects and we give notice to the developer. Failure to adhere to the observations made, we go ahead with the demolitions.”

The director stated that the FCT administration would now enforce the law relating to development of property in Abuja. He stated: “Under the law, a developer is expected to complete his/her house within a period of two years. Failure to do so, the person is expected to secure a re-validation certificate from the development control department.”

Speaking further, Yahaya blamed the inability of his agency to carry out demolitions of abandoned buildings on court injunctions secured by developers.

He said: “We have been having issues in carrying out our statutory responsibility. We’ve tried in the past to carry out demolitions of buildings we considered defective, but the developers secured court injunctions and we were hamstrung.

“I remember one particular instance in Asokoro. The developer secured a court injunction even when he knew the foundation of the house was defective and didn’t have the capacity to accommodate the weight of the structure. He went ahead with the development and eventually, the house collapsed, killing one person. So, court injunctions sometimes hinder us from carrying out our work.”

He revealed that the current laws are also responsible for their inability to carry out demolitions of some of these structures, where criminal activities hold sway.

“We can’t just go ahead and demolish buildings without following due process. When such buildings are in decent environments, we don’t really bother. But when the building begins to constitute nuisance, we demolish, particularly when hoodlums begin to carry out their nefarious activities there,” Yahaya stated.

Investigation revealed that most of the identified uncompleted buildings, which could be illegally occupied by criminal elements, are located in  Apo, Utako/Jabi and Gwarinpa areas.

Sources told Daily Sun that the FCT administration is also watching flyover bridges, which habour some people without known means of livelihood.

One of the bridges fingered is along Ahmedu Bello Way, in Wuse II, by Ademola Adekumbo junction, where drug peddling, prostitution and other criminal activities hold sway.

Apart from uncompleted building and under bridges, Daily Sun gathered that FCT authorities have also put recreational parks under watch.

Sources said that since some of the parks have been illegally converted into ‘residential aboard’ security operatives are keeping an eye on them.

Meanwhile, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has condemned the attacks in Abuja, Benisheikh, in Borno State, Wase, in Plateau State and Kafanchan in Kaduna State, saying Nigeria was drifting into nihilism.

It described the situation as unfortunate, regrettable and condemnable, adding: “After witnessing relative peace in some of these states in recent time, these unfortunate recurring massacres are coming up within 72 hours concurrently claiming many lives.”

The apex Islamic body in the northern part of the country stated this in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, saying that, the security situation in the country calls for Allah’s guidance and intervention.

According to the statement, “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) received with shock and bewilderment the cruel and senseless killings/attacks on innocent people at Apo, in Abuja (FCT), Benisheikh, in Borno State, Wase, in Plateau State, Kafanchan in Kaduna State and also various attacks in Nasarawa and Taraba States.

“JNI laments this sorry state of affairs in strongest terms, for the nation seems to be extricating into nihilism leading to multiple loss of innocent lives, the repercussion of which may not be good for the nation in the nearest future. Hence, the situation calls for Allah’s guidance and intervention. May He guide us alright, Amin.

“A critical overview of these repeated acts of absurdity clearly depict to the discerned, that the manner in which the SSS spokesperson handles reportage of security issues needs serious introspection, because the spokesperson concludes matters before investigation. “More amazing also is the news going round that the military were said to be overwhelmed by insurgents and driven away prior to the Benisheikh attacks, hence, the use of the military regalia by the insurgents. This act calls for sober reflection, if it is confirmed to be true. And it tells Nigerians the sorry state of the security operatives in Nigeria.

Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the concerned authority to thoroughly investigate the killings of suspected Boko Haram members in Abuja last Friday and let Nigerians know the truth.

ACF made the call in its reaction to the incident, through a statement made available toDaily Sun in Kaduna yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony N. Sani.

According to the statement, “ACF is observing the unfolding event associated with the killings last Friday in Abuja of the suspected members of Boko Haram with keen interest, especially about the conflicting reports and claims and counter claims of what actually happened.