By Festus Fifen.

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah on Thursday said he does not request or accept bribes in the course of doing his work of making sure the Nigeria capital is rid of illegal structures and shanties.

Speaking to Newsmen during the removal of illegal structures that were obstructing Jabi-Dakibiu road corridor. Ikharo Attah said no one should give any form of bribe to anyone if they have violated the stipulated master plan of Abuja.

Attah was responding to the complaint of some residents that they contributed N10,000 in order to dissuade the FCTA Demolition team from removing their illegal structures within the affected areas.

According to the SSA, “It is a sad irony, once your place is marked for removal just pack and move to another place, no single indigene is here now. The FCT Minister Mallam Muhammad Bello, has warned us over taking a bribe from anybody and today we have come to remove it and the person who collected the money I am sure he is not here.

“Those who gave bribes are already weeping and trying to pack their things. I will advise them not to give bribes and not to build on the road corridors again.

“For those who contributed N10,000 each and gave it to the Chief for onward transmission to us should go back to the Chief because we don’t take bribe “.

The SSA to the Minister, decried the rate at which people encroach on road corridors in Abuja and said the Minister is very sad and would continue to reclaim the road corridor from the illegal squatters.

“We are in Jabi-Dakibiu, reclaiming the road corridor where people built and encroach upon. Land is exhaustible when people finish selling land , then they start selling the road corridor “.

A lady simply known as Blessing one of those affected who was in tears said, she just bought the house in January 2023 for N1.4million.

“I just bought this house in January, for N1.4 million, from the former owner who has relocated abroad. I don’t have anywhere I can go, I was at work when my neighbor phoned me that they have demolished my house”.

Esara from Akwa Ibom state, said he has been living in this area for 12 years. He said his former place was demolished so he moved to Dakibiu to rent.

“When they came to mark, they told us they won’t come if we settle them, so we contributed N10,000 per house which we gave to the vigilante to give to the Chief to help us talk to them.

“It is the Chief of Dakibiu that sells the land, he sells N150, 000 for one bedroom apartment”.

Andrew Ayame, who said he is from Kaduna state, said he packed and relocated his family before the bulldozers arrived on Thursday. He commended FCTA for giving them enough time to relocate.

“I am helping some of the victims because they are not around and my house too is affected. They gave us notice so I had to relocate my family. I am just helping my friend”, he said.