Kaduna Communities Cry out over Alleged Demolition of 300 Houses

Tension has gripped some communities within the Kaduna metropolis following the destruction of over 300 houses by the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA).

The areas are said to be marked for demolition following the illegal construction of houses.

Some of the destroyed houses are still under construction while others had been completed and occupied.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Kaduna, Yusuf Zomo, who spoke on behalf of the affected persons, said officials of KASUPDA stormed the communities at about 12 midnight last Saturday and started “demolishing” houses without any prior notice.

THISDAY findings show that most of the houses are partially destroyed while in some cases, fences were pulled down.

Zomo said personnel of

KASUPDA, accompanied by armed security agents, arrived in the communities with bulldozers, and went from place to place “demolishing over 300 houses.”

He said the affected communities are Baban Saura, Anguwan Waziri, Karji, Tsohon Kamanz and Angwan Maigyero.

Zomo, who spoke in Hausa language, said: “Initially, they said they didn’t want containers on the road, and the owners of containers were directed to remove them from by the roadside.

”The owners of the containers complied with the directives and removed the containers.

“At about 12 midnight last Friday when everybody was asleep, they (KASUPDA officials) moved in with caterpillars and bulldozers. They were accompanied by armed security men who threatened to shoot anyone who came close to them.