Members of the OneAgape Foundation have staged a peaceful protest in Kaduna over the demolition of their property located in Babban Saura community, Chikun local government area of the state.
The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “We Say No to Injustice” and “Governor Uba Sani Please Intervene,” appealed to the Kaduna State government to investigate the demolition and ensure that justice is served.
During the protest, the project manager of the foundation, Mr Pedro Obhafuoso, said the demolished structure was meant to house a football academy, a solar energy training centre and a skill acquisition hub aimed at empowering youths within and outside Kaduna State.
He explained that the foundation legally acquired the land and obtained all necessary approvals from the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) before commencing construction.
“We acquired this land legally and obtained all required permits before we began development. Everything was properly documented. So, we were shocked when armed men came and demolished the property without any prior notice,” he said.
Obhafuoso alleged that the demolition was carried out by individuals who claimed to represent some government agencies. He said meetings held with both the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) and KASUPDA had yet to yield any resolution.
“At one of the meetings, we were told that the government would relocate us to another site and issue fresh documents at no cost. But our question remains: why offer us another land when this one was legally acquired?” he queried.
He appealed to Governor Sani to wade into the matter, describing him as a fair-minded leader known for justice and inclusiveness.
“We are calling on the governor to intervene. We know Senator Uba Sani as a man of fairness and inclusiveness, and we believe he will not allow such injustice to happen under his watch,” he said.
The project manager further disclosed that the incident had affected the confidence of the Foundation’s foreign partners, who had invested heavily in the project after being convinced that Kaduna was safe for investment.
He warned that such actions could discourage potential investors and stall developmental projects in the state.
Efforts to get a response from the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) proved abortive, as the Public Relations Officer, Nuhu Garba Dan’ayamaka, did not respond to calls and messages sent to his phone as of the time of filing this report.
