Outrage in FCT as police allegedly shoot 2 during protest over house demolitions

Tensions ran high in the Karsana community of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Monday morning after two indigenous residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were reportedly shot by police officers during a protest against ongoing house demolitions.

The victims, identified as Sunday Danjuma and Jacob Audu, were allegedly shot as chaos erupted when residents protested the demolition exercise that had displaced several families.

According to the community chairman, Zakari Baba, the violence began around 10 a.m. when police officers stationed at the main gate of the village barred affected natives from re-entering the area to recover their personal belongings.

Frustration quickly turned into confrontation as some residents attempted to force their way back into the community. In response, police officers reportedly opened fire, resulting in the shooting of the two individuals.

“In fact, as I speak, two of the natives that sustained bullets wounds are currently receiving treatment at Gwagwa health center,” he said.

Commissioner for Public Complaints Commission (PCC) representing the FCT, Hon Musa Dikko, who spoke with our reporter through the telephone confirmed the incident.

He said two natives of Karsana community sustained bullets injuries after the police tried to disperse the villagers.

He said he was able to visit the community to calm down the tension, disclosing that he had summoned the developer to the commission’s office to explain who gave the directive for the demolition.

“Actually, I led some of my officials to the community when I received a distress call that two natives of Karsana community were shot. And as I speak, we have been able to douse tension while we have also invited the developer to come to our office so that he will explain on whose directive he carried out the demolition,” he said.

Spokesman of the FCT police command, SP Adeh Josephine, neither answered calls nor responded to text message sent to her over the development.

Recall that the chairman of AMAC, Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, had on Saturday, fumed over demolition, which also affected palace of the village chief, Yahaya Barde.

Maikalangu, had while addressing newsmen, threatened to sue the developer.

(DailyTrust)