Demolition resumes in FCT’s Area One
The demolition of ‘illegal structures” in the FCT continued yesterday in Area One after a lull in the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the shanty structures within the vicinity of the Conoil filling station in the area have been pulled down.
The two bulldozers which carried out the operation were guided by armed policemen.
As the structures were pulled down the debris were set ablaze immediately to ensure that they were not replaced.
The owners of the structures were seen frantically removing some of their belongings as they noticed the bulldozers approaching.
The items rescued by the owners included crates of drinks, mattresses and pillows, chairs, plates and other personal effects.
NAN learnt that the structures were mainly used by food sellers and bar operators for their businesses.
Some of them were also used by phone operators and mechanics for their businesses.
A resident in the area, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said that the members of the Road Transport Workers Union used some of the structures as offices.
He said that the area had been so notorious because of the menace of “area-boys” living in the area.
According to him, people live in fear in the area and the neighbourhood because the boys can beat anybody up any time they choose to do so.
He pointed to a heap of tyres, saying those were tyres seized from people forcefully.
“The bulldozer have been pulling down structures in the area since Tuesday,’’ he said, adding that “this is the third consecutive day they have been operating in this place.’’
He said that some of the structures were marked since last year, adding that they came about two weeks ago to inform people that they were coming to carry out the operation, but they were not taken seriously.
NAN reports that the victims were seen bemoaning their fate as the crowd watched the operation.