PICTORIAL: FCTA Arrests 8 Land Grabbers, Reclaims Hectares In Gosa District

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Department of Development Control, has reclaimed over 100 hectares of land in Gosa District of the FCT, after demolishing some illegal structures under construction and arresting eight land grabbers.

The director of the department, Mukhtar Galadima, emphasised the collaboration with EFCC, ICPC, and the Nigerian Police in the apprehension of the perpetrators involved in illegal land grabbing activities.

Galadima highlighted the importance of eliminating land grabbing cases to prevent unsuspecting Nigerians from purchasing properties acquired through deceitful means.

He reiterated the FCTA’s commitment to addressing such incidents, referencing similar actions taken near the Train Station last year.

According to him, the reclaimed land, allocated to a corporate entity for housing estates, was illegally fenced off by encroachers, assuring that all illegal fences would be removed to prevent further encroachment.

He urged prospective land buyers to conduct due diligence by verifying land allocations with relevant government agencies, including the Department of Lands Administration, Development Control, and Urban and Regional Planning.

The director outlined ongoing efforts to monitor the environment regularly, with particular attention to Gosa District’s development designated by Urban and Regional Planning.

The secretary of Command and Control at FCTA, Peter Olumuji, condemned land grabbers’ criminal activities, including falsification of documents and violent confrontations with authorities.

He affirmed that the eight perpetrators arrested during the operation would face legal consequences.

For his part, CEO of Ivory Shelters Nigeria Limited, Hamza Adamu, confirmed the legitimate allocation of the land for mixed-use development, including commercial and residential purposes.

Adamu assured ongoing infrastructure development and security measures, emphasising affordability and client protection.

He denounced illegal occupants as land grabbers and reassured buyers of property within the allocated land of safety, thereby projecting a five-year completion timeline for the project, aiming to create a low-cost housing estate accessible to all.