The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA has cleared over 700 illegal structures built in swampy areas and flood plains in Kado Raya Angwan Makabarta, under the Life Camp District of Abuja.
The structures were inhabited by over 1,000 petty traders who had refused to quit the area in spite of several abatement notices.
Speaking during the exercise, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT minister, Mr Attah Ikharo said the operation was in compliance with ministerial directive.
According to him, the area had already being marked for demolition since April this year but the inhabitants of the illegal structures refused to comply with the notices issued to them.
He said; “The FCT Minister gave the marching order to rid the city of criminals which led to the massive operations in the city
“We came here with a combined security team and we have made some arrests and several sensitive items were also recovered.
“This illegal settlement is disturbing the neighbourhood and the entire Life Camp to Kado areas with some criminals extending up to Idu Karmo and several other areas far off from here. So, today we came to remove the entire structures here. The entire village here, about 85 per cent of it sits on flood plains. The one we are removing here is sitting right on the road corridor.”