Alleged Land Grabbing: Cooperative Group Petitions Tinubu, CDS, Wike

A group of allottees under the cooperative scheme of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has raised the alarm over what it described as the Nigeria Air Force’s unlawful hijacking of its estate land located at Hulumi, Idu district of the FCT.

However, the Nigerian Air Force also said it legally acquired the land from an independent party.

The group, in a statement by its leader, Omolara Babalola, in Abuja on Tuesday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, the Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and the Executive Director of NPHCDA ” to prevail on the Nigeria Air Force and their co-travellers to immediately vacate our lands to forestall breakdown of law and order.”

Omolara recalled how the Nigerian Air Force encroached on part of the estate land in 2023 and questioned what legal right the Nigerian Air Force had to occupy the remaining part of the estate.

“The estate, located in Hulumi, Idu, railway axis of the FCT, comprises phases 1 and 2, with both phases situated nearby.

“13 years ago, when our members keyed into the estate, some of us were young and aspiring Nigerians who hoped to own our homes shortly. Others who have advanced in their careers anticipated that they would someday retire to their home when they leave service.

“But that dream began to shatter sometimes in December 2023 after gun wielding operatives of the Nigeria Air force,  stormed our estate, rounded up our members on site, and later transported them to NAF facility where they were detained before occupying phase 2 section of the estate, leaving us with phase 1 section which could barely accommodate members who must have lost their plots of land in the occupied phase 1.

The group said that while the issues were yet to be resolved, the Air Force last week illegally entered into the remaining part of the land using military force.

“It is instructive to note that sadly, NAF have refused to vacate the illegally appropriated land despite advice from the Abuja Geographic Information System AGIS, the Development Control and other relevant land authorities in the FCT that the land belongs to us,” the group said.

The group, which comprises NPHCDA staff and private subscribers, vows not to cede any part of the estate. It cautions the Nigerian Air Force against using military force to hijack other people’s properties.

“NAF has remained adamant since it forcefully and illegally took over phase 2 of our estate, but we want the world to know that we will resist the recent attempts to take over phase 1, which is our only hope of having a roof over the heads of our families.

“The actions of the Nigerian Air Force towards us, the citizens it was meant to defend, is a serious violation of our fundamental rights to the dignity of a human person, right to property, which all must condemn.”

When contacted, the NAF Spokesman Air Cdre Ehimen Ejodame said the Nigerian Air Force legally acquired the land from an independent party.

He added that the NAF has contacted the original seller to arrange a meeting with the claimant and FCDA to resolve the dispute.

“The NAFIL Housing and Construction Company (NAFILHCC), a registered limited liability company, legally purchased a parcel of land from an independent party. The said land is now being contested. Following this development, NAFILHCC has contacted the original seller to meet with the claimant to resolve the dispute before the FCDA.”