Abuja: The City Sanitation Operation of the Federal Capital Territory has demolished illegal structures and shanties, popularly known as ‘Cashew Garden,’ in the Apo Cadastral Zone E27, Abuja. Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, led the operation on Tuesday, stating that the initiative aims to cleanse the area of criminal elements and miscreants.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Galadima emphasized that similar operations had been conducted in Zone 3, Wuse and UTC, following directives from the FCT Security Committee. He explained that the current focus in Apo is to dislodge shanties and individuals posing security threats to residents.
Mr. Steven Obiozo, Chairman of the garden, claimed that the approximately 200 occupants were not involved in criminal activities, asserting that the land was assigned to them by the plot owner. The occupants had established tents and shops selling various goods, including provisions, food, beer, and soft drinks.
Despite these claims, Mr. Galadima maintained that the occupation and operations in the area lacked government authorization, rendering them illegal. He warned that the FCT Administration would revoke land allocations for harboring miscreants involved in criminal activities.
Mr. Galadima further explained that the area was designated for residential development, but the allocated plots had not been developed within the required timeframe. He stated that the FCT Security Committee had directed the administration to reclaim and possess the area.
The director highlighted that the area has a defined road corridor marked by a trench, known as the S20, which extends through FHA Apo to Guzape 2. He warned that plot owners permitting illegal structures would lose their land allocations, which would be reverted to the FCT Administration.
Mr. Adamu Gwary, Director of the Security Services Department, FCTA, also spoke on the matter. Represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of Command and Control, Gwary stated that the operation aims to deter individuals with criminal tendencies from settling in the FCT. He mentioned that some miscreants engaged in illicit drug activities, and assured that efforts would continue to remove such elements from the territory.
