Abuja Residents Protest FCT Minister Wike’s Demolition Drive

A protest erupted in Abuja on Friday as residents of Ruga, a settlement near Airport Road, voiced outrage over the demolition of their homes under an initiative led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The operation, known as Operation Sweep, aims to clear areas in the capital deemed “nuisances” or “criminal hotspots,” yet many residents say the demolitions have caused needless suffering.

Prominent lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, joined by advocate Vincent Martins Otse (also known as VeryDarkMark), led the protest, accusing Wike’s task force of targeting vulnerable communities. They claim the demolitions, allegedly executed with malicious intent, destroyed countless homes and properties worth millions of naira, leaving many displaced and destitute.

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Adeyanju highlighted the plight of the affected residents, many of whom had already been forced to flee conflict zones in northern Nigeria, such as Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. “These individuals are artisans trying to rebuild their lives,” he said, appealing to President Bola Tinubu for intervention. “They’ve faced unimaginable hardships due to insecurity in the north, and now their homes have been taken from them again. We urge the president to halt these demolitions immediately.”

Otse expressed similar concerns, pointing out that the cleared area was situated away from main roads and posed no apparent threat. He criticized the lack of compensation for displaced residents, suggesting that the operation highlights a deepening divide between Abuja’s wealthy and its low-income populations. “The elite treat the poor as if they don’t matter,” Otse stated. “These families now face homelessness amid an already severe economic crisis.”