Abuja Residents Seek Assistance Against Land Grabbers Who Expose Them To Kidnappers, Earth Tremors

]Residents of Katampe Extension, an Abuja community, have warned that they are now at the mercy of kidnappers and earth tremors as a result of ongoing illegal land grabs and the reckless use of high-calibre explosives in their community.

They urged Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to intervene and restore order to their community by monitoring the activities of land grabbers whose sole concern is the exploitation of people looking for a home.

Katampe Extension is located on the eastern edge of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), bordered by the Katampe Hills to the north and the Abuja-Kubwa Motorway to the south.

The residents made their appeal while guiding journalists through the devastation left by land speculators’ illegal activities.

They noted that natural waterways and drainage channels, which are critical for stormwater management, have been blocked or allocated to developers, posing a significant threat to the area’s ecosystem and potentially destabilising the Lower Usuma Dam.

Wole Atolagbe, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Katampe Extension Residents Association (KERA), told journalists during a tour of the community that developers have been blasting rocks to create illegal connections between Katampe Extension and neighbouring districts in Bwari, such as Usuma and Jikoko. He claimed that these developers falsely advertised lands in Usuma and surrounding areas as part of the Katampe Extension, putting unsuspecting buyers in danger.

He went on to say, “This reckless blasting is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of community safety.”

Atolagbe warned that the ongoing development is increasing the risk of kidnapping for residents, as previously secluded hills are transformed into easy access points for criminals.

Also speaking, KERA Vice President Dr. Austin Maho argued that the recent earth tremors in the area were caused by developers’ frequent use of explosives.

He stated, “The noise from the explosions is deafening, and our buildings shake to their foundations. We are increasingly concerned about the integrity of our homes.”

Maho lamented that a former FCT minister had previously halted the activities of illegal developers, but they had resumed covertly, endangering the area’s integrity.

He stated, “If these activities are not controlled, we may face catastrophic flooding of the Usuma Dam, similar to what has occurred in Maiduguri and other parts of the country.”

Muhammed Gimba, the president of the residents association, urged the government to intervene and protect their homes and environment from further destruction.

He stated, “We are urging Minister Nyesom Wike to return the district to its original master plan and protect the community from further harm.” We also urge the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on the FCT, to look into the current situation in Katampe Extension.

“We need help. It is time for the government to take decisive action and protect the people of Katampe Extension from these illegal activities.”