Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has condemned the alleged police shooting of unarmed residents during a protest against the demolition of their homes in the Karsana area of Abuja.
According to eyewitnesses and viral videos circulating online, security operatives reportedly opened fire on residents protesting the demolition exercise carried out by the FCT Administration under the supervision of Minister Nyesom Wike. Several people were allegedly injured during the incident.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Senator Kingibe decried the violence and described the event as “state-sponsored trauma” against vulnerable citizens.
“We cannot build a just society by bulldozing communities without compassion or firing at citizens instead of listening to them. This incident represents a gross abuse of power and a violation of the fundamental rights of our people,” she said.
“The pain, fear, and indignity inflicted on these residents is something no human being deserves—least of all in our nation’s capital.”
She called on authorities to immediately investigate the incident, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that victims receive adequate medical care and compensation.
“The government must remember that its duty is to protect, not persecute. We must rethink this approach to urban development that treats our people as obstacles instead of stakeholders,” Kingibe added.
Residents of Karsana, speaking to journalists, claimed they received little or no notice before the demolitions began.
Musa Aliyu, a resident, said: “We just woke up to bulldozers and armed police. People were crying, trying to carry out what they could. Then they started shooting. It was chaos.”
Mrs. Aisha Nwafor added: “These are our homes. We are not criminals. We were just begging them to stop or give us more time.”
Senator Kingibe urged swift and transparent action from the relevant authorities to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
