Some unidentified persons in their numbers accompanied by security personnel on Wednesday, stormed Logo 1, a settlement in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital at about 8.00AM and demolished over 50 houses with properties worth over a billion naira destroyed.
It was Observed at the scene of the incidence that, the agents, with the aid of security personnel, stormed the settlement and without saying a word to anyone, ordered everybody out with a warning that no one be allowed into the houses.
And in a twinkling of an eye, they started bringing down houses.
It observed that those who attempted making phone calls to
report the incident had their phones seized and smashed by the security
operatives.
It was also gathered that youths of the area who mobilized to resist the
demolition had two of their members shot while others were overpowered by men
of the security and taken to unknown destination.
Some of the victims who spoke with pressmen include; Terfa Kaatyo, David Ahile, Emmanuel Yough, Maiungwa Shimana, Abado Orkuma and Mrs. Sewuese Atim.
Mrs Atim who was soaked in tears, said they didn’t know the reason they had to lose their properties in this manner.
“Besides, even if such a drastic measure was issued against us, we ought to have been given a prior notice” she lamented.
According the victims, one Mr. Akende Har Igyuse, who was among the people carrying out the demolition exercise had confronted them sometime ago claiming that, the portion of land covering their houses belonged to him, that it was given to him by his father. He subsequently, instituted a legal suit against them, praying the court to enter judgement in his favour to vacate them.
They said, however, that the case was ruled in their favour, which put the matter to rest, and wondered how the decision to demolish their houses was arrived at.
In another twist, it was revealed that a very influential
figure in the state who had acquired a piece of land adjacent to the area had
at some point requested that they sold their land to him and relocate to
another place.
This, to them, may have been the reason behind what had befallen them.
Efforts by newsmen to uncover those who where carrying out the exercise and ascertain the reason for their actions failed due to threat by the security personnel at the scene.
The General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board, Apostle Saint Abraham Gbilekaa, whose office has mandate to demolish illegal structures in the state, said the board was not aware of the matter and had not directed any demolition in the area.
The story was not different with the police public relations officer, DSP Sewuese Anene, who said she was not aware that such an exercise was going on despite having police men in uniform providing security for the demolition exercise at the scene of the incident.
Dailyasset
