Residents of Iddo-Sarki community along Airport Road in Abuja, on Monday. staged a protest over the purported takeover of their ancestral land and forceful eviction by the Nigerian Navy.
The protesters marched along the airport expressway carrying several placards with slogans such as “Our land is not for Navy Barracks,” and “The Navy should park and leave our land,” to express their discontent.
Representing the protesters, Mr Bulus Tanko highlighted that both natives and residents united to oppose the Navy’s encroachment on their land and ancestral homes. Tanko emphasised the community’s historical precedence, existing before the creation of the FCT, questioning the Navy’s sudden claim and issuance of eviction notices without prior warning.
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He referenced the Land Use Act, stipulating that land acquisition should only occur in the public interest, and allocation is the responsibility of the FCT administration. He criticised the Navy’s actions as disregarding due process and the rights of the community members.
The community youth leader, Abdulbasit Adamu, voiced concerns over the distress caused by the Navy’s presence, with many residents enduring sleepless nights and opting to relocate. Adamu appealed for intervention from President Bola Tinubu and FCT minister Nyesom Wike, stressing the community’s historical significance dating back to Nigeria’s independence.
Adamu lamented the irony of the Nigerian Navy demanding eviction from a community founded by their forefathers, underscoring the residents’ lack of alternative living options.
The protest underscores the community’s resolve to safeguard their land rights against what they perceive as unjust encroachment by the Nigerian Navy.
