Residents of Katampe Extension, a community in Abuja, have sounded the alarm that they are now at the mercy of kidnappers and earth tremor following the ongoing illegal activities of land grabbers and the reckless use of high-calibre explosives in their community.
They called on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene and bring sanity back to their community by checking the activities of the land grabbers whose only care is exploitation of people looking for home.
Situated on the eastern fringe of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Katampe Extension is bordered by the Katampe Hills to the north and the Abuja-Kubwa Expressway to the south.
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The residents made their appeal while guiding journalists through the devastation caused by the illegal activities of land speculators.
They noted that natural waterways and drainage channels, essential for managing stormwater, have been blocked or allocated to developers, posing a significant risk to the area’s ecosystem and potentially destabilizing the Lower Usuma Dam.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Katampe Extension Residents Association (KERA), Wole Atolagbe, while conducting journalists round the community, said developers had been blasting rocks to create illegal connections between Katampe Extension and neighbouring districts in Bwari, such as Usuma and Jikoko.
He alleged that these developers falsely advertise lands in Usuma and surrounding areas as part of Katampe Extension, thereby putting unsuspecting buyers at risk.
He added that: “This reckless blasting is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of safety for our community.”
Atolagbe warned that the ongoing development is increasing the risk of kidnapping for residents, as the previously secluded hills are being transformed into accessible routes for criminals.
Also speaking, KERA Vice President, Dr. Austin Maho, argued that the recent earth tremors in the area is linked to the frequent use of explosives by developers.
He said: “The noise from the explosions is deafening, and our buildings shake to their foundations. We are increasingly uncertain about the integrity of our homes.”
Maho lamented that a former FCT minister had previously halted the activities of illegal developers, but these operations have resumed covertly, threatening the integrity of the area.
He said: “If these activities are not checked, we could face catastrophic flooding of Usuma Dam, similar to what has occurred in Maiduguri and other parts of the country.”
The president of the residents association Muhammed Gimba, appealed to the government to intervene and protect their homes and environment from ongoing destruction.
He said: “We are appealing to Minister Nyesom Wike to restore 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 investigate the ongoing situation in Katampe Extension.
“We need help. It is time for the government to act decisively and safeguard the people of Katampe Extension from these illegal activities.”
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