By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse
THE Residents of Dutse metropolitan council in Jigawa state may pose for a showdown with officials of Dutse Capital Development Authority, (DCDA) and the Jigawa state government over what they described as “gross violation of fundamental human rights” on the demolition of their business premises, and residential buildings without giving sufficient notice to quit – a situation which lead the collapse of a businessman after his property was destroyed by DCDA official during the exercise.
Speaking to our correspondent in Dutse one of the affected residents whose resident was illegally demolished by the officials of the Dutse Capital Development Authority, (DCDA) and who gave his name as Malam Sule Maihula expressed concern over Lamido’s government action – describing their actions as “gross molestation” on the poor especially in this blessed month of Ramadan.
“What the government of Jigawa state did to us clearly shows that the government cares not about the welfare of its citizens any amore, situation which is very unfair, and unjust, threatening we are ever ready to take legal redress provided we found out that we were been humiliated for just no cause”
Maihula who described such action as “Military dictatorship”, added that “if not in the military regime how can you come and destroy someone’s resident without giving such a person sufficient period of time to quit”, he queried.
Another victim, Aisha Mohammed who spoke on behalf of her aged father lamented on how her father’s house was badly demolished for unknown reasons, with an uncertified quit notice by the officials of the (DCDA) at a time when the members of the family are scribbling for food to break their fast.
“This unwholesome trend occurs to us shortly when we are about breaking our fast, then we saw a hefty bulldozer breaking part of my father’s building, – is that the way to work or approach people?, she asked.
Aisha wonders whether the state Governor, Sule Lamido was aware of the pathetic move by the (DDA) officials. She questioned why some of the marked houses were not pulled down?
According to her “this (DCDA) actions really shocked us since we know that the Governor is a Muslim and the DCDA people are also Muslims and we felt that since Ramadan month is the month of peace, why can’t they deferred their actions till after Ramadan period”
Findings by our correspondent revealed that over 500 houses and business shops where marked by the Dutse Capital Development Authority (DCDA) for demolition between Thursday and Friday for unknown reasons.
The affected buildings are located at- Abdullahi Maikano road, Hakimi street, Madobi road and the city central Mosque road, others are at Gida Dubu and Layin Dabino. Other places demolished include the Dutse central Mosque, Dutse Modern International School, personal residence of the Chief of staff to the governor, Aminu Ibrahim.
The Chairman of the Dutse Capital Development Authority (DCDA), Alhaji Bashir Aminu could not be reach as several calls made on his mobile phone yielded no response. When our reporter visited his resident to clarify with him for more details, he was not found in the house.
