FCT Monarch Faults Demolition of Community Market by Authorities

… Says he isn’t aware of selling estate land

By Paschal Emeka Abuja | Posted May 30, 2024

Gomo the III of Karmo, a community in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Umar Garni Sarkin Karmo has faulted in its entirety, the demolition of Karmo Market, or even trying to force the indigenes and the traders to a market in another community by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA).

Through deceit, he went on, they started to demolish the market, saying that they want to expand the road, which of course, is a blunt lie. This, he said they rejected in its entirety.

He also said that he wasn’t aware of reselling land that was said to belong to an estate developer to some people, whose demolition started this year.

Addressing journalists in his palace over the weekend, he frowned at the collaboration between the owners of a newly built private market in another community, with the authorities to demolish Karmo market, force the traders to the newly constructed market in another community.

He condemned the move in its entirety, saying that such move if not stopped may cause communal clash.

He informed that a notice was served to them to that effect, by the authorities, adding that they later used trick to tell people that the FCT minister wanted to expand the roads, which, according to him, was a blunt lie.

The Village Head, however, noted with concern that the market has been existing in Karmo, before Abuja was created as the nation’s capital and if it ceased to exist, it will no longer have a market to carryout commercial activities.

The Sarkin Karmo, vowed that they will resist the attempt to relocate Karmo market because it will make them to be go far places to buy and sell.

The Gomo therefore argued that since they had not been relocated elsewhere, their market should not be tampered with.

He denied the allegation of selling lands to an estate developer, whose buildings erected on the piece of land in Karmo, was demolished by the authorities

He disclosed that before he became the Chief of Karmo, those who built houses on the said land were enumerated and compensated in 2006.

He further disclosed that government officials came with a document that showed that the people were compensated, he regretted that when the authorities came back to demolish the buildings, he was not informed. But when he heard about it, he went on, he suspended his journey and to saw things for himself.

He However, advised the victims to desist from buying lands already allocated to people, and to always carry out thorough investigation before going into such transactions.

Similarly, the Igbo traditional ruler (Eze Igbo) in the area, HRH John Ossai, when contacted by our Correspondent, said that he came to Abuja in 1979, and many of his buildings in Karmo were demolished in 2006, and he was compensated.

He advised the victims, majority of whom are Igbo residents of FCT, to stop taking the risk of buying land without proper investigation.

The Eze Igbo spoke extensively on the need for people to go into land transactions with serious investigations and verifications, saying that investing on a land already allocated out is a serious risk, which according to him does no good to the investor.

One of the victims, Sunday Nnaji, who spoke to our Correspomdent informed that the government officials and those from the estate developer came to the area, counted and marked their buildings, took their names, their phone numbers and promised to compensate them and left.

He regretted that when they came back after some time, they started demolishing their buildings, without notice; a development which made them to constitute a committee that had been going to the government and the estate owner to iron things out, but unfortunately, nothing came out of it and they came back to continue to demolish the buildings.

He informed that the indigenes who sold the lands to them, promised to not only protect them, but also ensure that they get compensation, in the event of any demolition.

Unfortunately, the indigenes and the estate developer could neither live up to their promises, nor the government.

However, another victim, who craved anonymity, informed that the son of the estate developer, when contacted explained that the reason behind the demolition was that the FCT minister has ordered each land owner to develop the land, or have it revoked.

He further added that they have got buyers, who were serious to pay and start development immediately.

It was gathered that the structures were sold at about N200 thousand to N400 thousand Naira only, depending on the size of the building, to iron scrap dealers, who in turn pull down the houses, take valuable building materials, such as iron rods, for sale.

Those who could not sell their houses or outrightly refused to sell them, for one reason or the other, had them demolished and their properties destroyed in the process.

Further findings showed that hoodlums carted away people’s property, such as refrigerators, fans, television, among others, making them loose there buildings and valuables at the same time.