Amnesty International has released an Urgent Action request in respect of the threat of forced evictions which are imminent in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
This came up because Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State, Nigeria has threatened to demolish houses in Gbagyi Villa.
At least 1,000 houses have been marked with an X for demolition. Thousands risk being forcibly evicted.
The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) has issued 21-day demolition notices to some residents of the village, on four occasions between 4 November 2015 and 16 March 2016.
Amnesty International said it had seen these notices and some of the houses marked X.
Residents say they have not been consulted about the planned demolition, and no alternative housing or compensation has been offered.
The residents initiated a court case on 10 March and obtained an injunction against the planned demolition.
Despite the ongoing court case, the Governor of Kaduna State visited the community on 21 July and publicly said that houses which have allegedly encroached on the land belonging to the Kaduna State Polytechnic, and built without title documents and building permits, will be demolished even before the conclusion of the court case.
The organisation went further: “Each of the houses marked for demolition has an average of five residents.
Therefore, should the demolitions go ahead, at least five thousand people (including, men, women and children) will be left homeless and vulnerable to a range of human rights violations.
Many of the residents, who are either the original farmland owners or those who bought land from its original owners, and their tenants, do not have the demanded title documents, as these are difficult and costly to obtain.
However, many have legally obtained building permits or have made payments for obtaining the same. Despite this, their houses have been marked for demolition.”
Amnesty International wants concerned individuals to write immediately in English or any language:
– Calling on the Nigerian authorities to immediately stop the planned forced eviction of residents of Gbagyi Villa and allow the court process to run its course;
– Urging them, that in line with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, to ensure that even where an eviction is justified, it is carried out only after appropriate safeguards against forced evictions including genuine consultation, adequate notice; adequate compensation and alternative housing for those who cannot afford to provide for themselves, have been put in place.
Such appeals, according to the organisation, should be sent to:
Governor of Kaduna State
Mallam Ahmad Nasir El-Rufai
Twitter: @elrufai
Facebook:https://web.facebook.com/Mal-Nasir-El-Rufai-for-Governor-…/…
Salutation: Your Excellency
General Manager, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency
TPL. Saratu Musa Haruna
No.5 Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna, Kaduna, Kaduna State Nigeria
Salutation: Dear Madam
And copies to:
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission
Professor Bem Angwe
National Secretariat
No 19 Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama
P.M.B. 444 Garki Abuja, Nigeria
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
Additional Information by Amnesty International:
As a result of the threat to demolish their homes, members of the Gbagyi Villa community members instituted a case (Joshua J. Nyam & 2.ors V The Governor of Kaduna State & 4 ors – Suit no: KDH/KAD/218/2016) at the High Court of Kaduna State, on 10 March 2016.