Demolished Police Duplexes: Wike Outraged Over Arrest of FCTA Officials
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday expressed strong displeasure over the arrest and detention of officials of the FCT Development Control Department by the Nigeria Police Force following the demolition of 11 duplexes built under high-tension power lines in the Apo-Dutse District of Abuja.
Wike, who personally visited the site of the demolished structures, was visibly angered as he condemned the actions of the police, describing the arrest of FCTA enforcement officers as a “brazen abuse of power and disregard for constituted authority.”
The minister stated that the demolition was a lawful exercise carried out by the Development Control Department in line with the Abuja Master Plan, stressing that no individual or institution including the police is above the law. He noted that the officers acted within their mandate to protect lives and property, insisting that structures built under high-tension lines posed serious safety risks to residents.
According to Wike, “It is unacceptable for any security agency to intimidate or arrest civil servants who are simply doing their jobs. This kind of lawlessness cannot continue. We cannot have a situation where people who violate development regulations turn around to harass those enforcing the law.”
He vowed to take up the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, warning that such actions could strain institutional relationships and undermine the government’s urban management efforts.
The 11 duplexes in question were reportedly constructed by the Nigeria Police Force Cooperative under high-tension transmission lines in violation of approved land use and safety regulations.
Development Control officials, acting on the orders of the FCT Administration, had earlier issued multiple warnings and notices before proceeding with the demolition.
Wike reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring sanity to the FCT, emphasizing that enforcement of building and safety regulations would continue regardless of who is involved.
“We are not targeting any institution; we are only insisting that everyone must obey the law,” he said.
As of press time, the detained FCTA officials were yet to be released, though efforts were ongoing to secure their freedom through official channels. The incident has since sparked debate over the limits of institutional authority and the need for inter-agency cooperation in enforcing Abuja’s development standards.
