Abuja indigenous people protest Navy’s alleged land grab, block major road

August 21, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Indigenous people in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, blocked a major road to protest the alleged takeover of their land by the Nigerian Navy.

The residents in a peaceful demonstration asked the Nigeria Navy to vacate their land.

The protesters armed with placards with various inscriptions including “Leave our land alone,” “FCT Minister come to our rescue,” “Save farmers, fight hunger,” “We love Nigeria but we need justice,” “We love defence but need justice,”.

A source who want to remain anonymous saud told The YorubaTimes that the Nigerian Navy has sparked outrage in Abuja’s Iddo community by erecting a signpost claiming ownership of the land and threatening to demolish homes and buildings.

The move has left hundreds of residents, mostly students of the University of Abuja, facing imminent displacement.

Eyewitnesses describe the scene as “chaotic” as community members protest the Navy’s actions, appealing to President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for intervention.

“This is not the first time the Iddo community has faced eviction threats. In 2021, the Nigerian Army and police forcibly removed residents without prior notice, leaving many without shelter” a source told our correspondent.

As tensions escalate, the government’s silence has fueled concerns about the fate of Iddo’s residents.

Residents urge President Tinubu and Minister Wike to intervene and protect the community’s rights.