Residents of Kuchibedna, a community near Gwarinpa in Abuja, were thrown into chaos on Tuesday when unidentified individuals accompanied by armed police and paramilitary officers arrived with bulldozers and demolished several homes and properties.
According to residents, the demolition began around 10:30 a.m. and was carried out without any prior notice, leaving many families stranded and their belongings buried under debris.
The Village Head of Kuchibedna, Mr. George Gojewo, described the operation as shocking, unlawful, and carried out without authorization from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) or any government agency.
He said the community’s only ECWA Church and the home of his son, the Prince of Kuchibedna, were also destroyed, and residents were not allowed to remove their belongings before the demolition.
Chief Gojewo noted that the community has been engaged in a long-running court dispute with an estate developer, Winning Clause, which had previously fenced part of the land. He stressed that the case was still pending in court when the demolition was executed.
Pastor in Charge of the ECWA Church in Kuchibedna, Reverend Danlami Lamilo, confirmed that both the church building and his residence were pulled down, adding that nothing could be salvaged from the church before the bulldozers moved in.
A 60-year-old resident, Mr. Samuel Nasara, said his property, including more than 35 rooms and shops, was completely destroyed, leaving him, his two wives, and seven children homeless.
Affected residents are now appealing for government intervention and demanding clarification on the motive behind the demolition, as the community grapples with displacement and uncertainty.
