Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered the demolition of an “illegal” settlement near Karmajiji in the Kukwaba District of Abuja over security concerns.
Wike issued the directive on Friday after a meeting of the FCT Security Committee, after which he led a team of security operatives to inspect the settlement.
He said intelligence reports linked the area to criminal activities, alleging that suspected criminals often retreated there after carrying out attacks in different parts of the nation’s capital.
Describing the settlement as a serious security threat, the minister said its unregulated nature made it difficult for security agencies to identify or trace those living there.
“Look at the area. You don’t even know who the occupants are. How do you identify them? How do you know where to locate them? And this is inside the city,” he said.
“This is a time bomb. There’s no way we can allow this. The FCT Administration will not allow criminal hideouts to thrive in Abuja.”
Wike directed the Department of Development Control to immediately demolish the settlement, instructing Ahmed Sanusi, the FCT Commissioner of Police, to work with the agency to carry out the exercise.
He warned that anyone using such settlements to facilitate criminal activities would face the full weight of the law.
The minister said the planned demolition forms part of the FCT Administration’s broader strategy to dismantle criminal enclaves, improve public safety, and strengthen security across the territory.
He added that the administration would sustain security operations aimed at protecting lives and property, stressing that the safety of residents remains a top priority.
