Our Reporter, Abuja
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly condemned the reported police shooting of unarmed residents protesting the demolition of their homes in Karsana, Abuja, describing the incident as a “state-sponsored trauma.”
Senator Kingibe in a statement on Wednesday, said security operatives allegedly opened fire on civilians who had gathered to express their anguish over the destruction of their homes by government bulldozers.
“That bullets were fired at civilians, people merely trying to salvage their lives and dignity, is both unacceptable and indefensible. This is not law enforcement; it is state-sponsored trauma.”
She further lamented what she called a growing trend of urban development driven by force rather than empathy, warning that “we cannot build a just society by bulldozing communities without compassion or firing at citizens instead of listening to them.”
The lawmaker called the incident “a gross abuse of power and a violation of the fundamental rights of our people,” emphasizing that such actions have no place in Nigeria’s capital.
Calling for immediate accountability, Kingibe demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and urged authorities to prosecute those responsible. She also pressed for adequate medical attention and compensation for victims.
“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,” she said.
“Abuja must not become a place where the poor live in fear of the very government meant to serve them,” Kingibe concluded. “I will not stay silent while those I represent bleed.”
Eyewitnesses say the protesters, many of whom had lived in the community for years, were unarmed and pleaded with authorities to halt the demolition.
