'Kidnappers are having a free day on us'' - Abuja Community Protest

Residents of an Abuja suburb, Pegi, have staged a protest over incessant attacks by bandits and the deplorable state of motorable road which aids attacks in their community.

The protesters numbering up to 60, besieged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) head office at Area 11, Garki District, demanding for adequate security and construction of road. 

The protest was convened by Aderibigbe Taiwo, Chairman Pegi Community Development Association (PECDA). 

The aggrieved protesters blocked the main entrance of the FCDA office in the morning while carrying a large banner with the inscription #Bad Road in our Community, Insecurity in our Resettlement, Peoples Gazette learnt. 

The banner also displayed “kidnappers are having a free day on Pegi residents.” 

The protesters were heard chanting “we no go gree oo! we no go gree!! honourable minister we no go gree!! Mohammed Bello we no go gree.”

Mr. Taiwo in his reaction accused the present and past FCT administration of using their community proposed project as a conduit for continuously looting the treasury for over a decade. 

“We were relocated to this resettlement. It is unfortunate that successive administrations have been using our community proposed infrastructure projects to loot money ceaselessly. 

 “There have been unabated attacks by bandits in the Pegi community. It is unfortunate that our women are being r3ped, our residents are being kidnapped here and there,” Mr Taiwo lamented. 

The community leader accused the FCT minister, Bello Mohammed, of failing to redeem his promises to them over 4 years ago. 

“He promised to establish a Primary Health Care Centre, fix the bad road linking the community but failed to meet up with his promise.” 

“We have been resilient in the last 11 years. Remember, residents in that community did not locate to that place, they were relocated by the government.”

 

“The government has abandoned residents living in the community to perennial hardship,” Mr. Taiwo said.

 

Pegi community has witnessed a series of attacks by gun wielding men suspected to be bandits over the years.

 

The Gazette had reported how brigands recently opened fire on residents returning home from work in an estate in the community.

 

The residents vowed to continue to stage a protest until the government met their demands.