Residents of the Tudun Wada community in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday staged a protest in Abuja, demanding justice over the demolition of their houses and properties allegedly carried out by hoodlums with police protection.
The protesters, who converged at the National Assembly, the Ministry of Police Affairs, and the Office of the Inspector General of Police, accused the former Plateau State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Festus Fuanter, of sponsoring the demolition.
They also alleged that the Plateau State Police Command provided cover for the perpetrators, who invaded the community at dawn without any official notice or court order.
One of the protest leaders, Isa Muhammad, said residents were caught unawares when armed men arrived around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, destroying several buildings while policemen stood guard.
“My parents are Gomai by tribe. I bought the land and built my house about 18 years ago. In 2022, the former Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Festus Fuanter, took us to court,” Muhammad told reporters.
“We appealed the case, and it’s still before the Court of Appeal. Unfortunately, before judgment was delivered, the former commissioner connived with the police to destroy our houses without any court order or notice. We are appealing for justice as we have nowhere else to call home.”
Another resident, Danladi Abdullahi, said the demolition left many families homeless, adding that some of the destroyed houses were worth over ₦20 million.
“We are peaceful citizens, and that’s why we came here to seek justice. We were asleep when hoodlums, supported by the police, invaded our community, chased us out, and destroyed our homes. We are calling on the Federal Government to investigate the incident,” he said.
When contacted, Fuanter denied any involvement in the demolition, clarifying that although his family had filed a lawsuit regarding ownership of the disputed land, he was not a direct party to the case.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, said the command was not aware of the demolition but would investigate the allegations and issue a statement at the appropriate time.
