The ongoing demolitions in Abuja have left thousands of residents displaced, as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration continues its widespread campaign targeting low-income neighborhoods.
On Friday, activists and community leaders—including social media influencer Martin Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkman, and Barrister Deji Adeyanju—led a protest at the Ruga settlement near the Abuja city gate. Reports indicate that over 15,000 residents in the Ruga area alone have been affected by the demolitions, with authorities allegedly setting fire to properties in some parts after clearing the land.
Adeyanju strongly criticized the demolitions, arguing that development should never come at the expense of vulnerable communities, particularly when demolitions take place in areas distant from major roads or key public infrastructure. He emphasized that demolitions should serve the public interest, not private gain, and decried the government’s ongoing harassment of these communities.
“If the government keeps taking land from the poor, it will only fuel more social and economic instability,” Adeyanju warned. “These people are devastated, and the push to grab their land is becoming more aggressive. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and direct the FCT Minister to halt the seizure of poor people’s land.”
He added, “If land must be acquired, it should be taken from affluent areas, not from the poor to benefit the rich. This is only adding to the insecurity in the country. There is no valid justification for these demolitions. You cannot build a capital city by displacing its own people. There’s no public interest here—the demolitions are not happening near any major roads.”
VeryDarkman echoed Adeyanju’s concerns, highlighting the severe hardships these demolitions are causing in an already challenging economic environment. He warned that the forced evictions could exacerbate crime and insecurity as families are left without homes and livelihoods.
“This is only making things worse,” VeryDarkman stated. “With the dollar’s exchange rate skyrocketing and the cost of living rising, the government should focus on creating affordable housing, not displacing people without offering them a place to stay. What’s happening now is lazy, cruel, and unjust. These people will become desperate, and that will lead to more crime—terrorism, theft, and worse.”
He also urged Minister Nyesom Wike to consider the broader social impact of the demolitions, particularly on displaced families and their children. He cautioned that the current approach could have far-reaching consequences for both security and social harmony in Abuja.
“The government needs to think carefully before moving forward with this demolition plan,” VeryDarkman continued. “These people have lived here for decades, and their homes are not even close to a main road. What happens next is predictable—increased crime and social unrest. The government should be creating affordable housing, not destroying people’s homes.”
Many of the residents affected, some of whom have lived in the community for nearly 40 years, joined the protest, holding signs that read “Stop Demolition,” “Wike Must Go,” and “Stop Demolishing Poor People’s Houses to Give to Your Friends.” The protesters expressed their frustration with the lack of affordable housing and the perception that the government is prioritizing wealthy interests over the needs of the poor, calling on President Tinubu to step in and prevent further displacement.
During the demonstration, Adeyanju condemned the ongoing land seizures, calling them a brazen and unrelenting assault on the poor. He warned that displacing low-income residents to favor wealthier interests would only exacerbate insecurity in the city. He reiterated that development should never come at the expense of vulnerable communities, especially when the demolitions are occurring in areas far from essential infrastructure.
