Traders in different markets in Abuja are not sleeping with both eyes closed as the Environmental Task Force set up by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, is making life uneasy for them.
Many are having a running battle with the task force which comprises personnel from the police, Army, Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Development Control Department, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), among others.
Bulldozers, pail loaders, and trucks have been used to remove about 250 carpenters from the popular Kugbo Furniture Market, a temporary trading place on Nyanyan Road.
The traders complained to TheNiche that they were given less than 24 hours’ notice to relocate.
Pleas did not impress the task force team which pulled down the perimeter fence and ordered the traders to evacuate their wares immediately.
A few of them who had the courage to step forward to question the rationale for the action were lashed with horse whip by soldiers and policemen.
AMAC Chief Marketing Manager, Oge Christy, said the traders had been asked since last year to relocate to a space provided for them inside the market, but they refused.
She claimed that Mohammed directed the removal of the traders because their wares attracted the attention of motorists, which caused road accidents.
But Abuja Furniture Makers Co-operative Society (AFMCSC) Chairman, Daniel Onoja, alleged that the eviction was instigated by a rival Karo/Nyanya Furniture Makers Association (KNFMA) in the market to enhance its own business.
He said: “It was horrible because they have been threatening us. I didn’t believe such a thing would happen to us in this market.
“We are stationed across the [market] fence, the other people are also across the fence but they came to remove our own fence and the other people were left alone. It is a surprising thing.”
On whether he suspected foul play by the task force, he said: “Yes, even the Chief Manager (of AMAC), Musa Adamu, has been telling us that these other people have been threatening not to pay their monthly levy if we are not sent away from this market.
“So we believe they are the ones sponsoring all these things because they have told us often and often.”
Onoja alleged that KNFMA Chairman, Chimezie Ndumele, told Adamu “to remove us from this place and he has been working hand in hand with Oge Christy, the Chief Market Manager, who is his relation, to do this to us.
“While this thing was going on, we were writing series of letters to AMAC. They are all aware of these things.
“The notice for removing us from here came from the revenue department of AMAC, instead of coming from the surveyor and works department. The lady served us this notice from her office in the revenue office.
“She went and mobilised these people. And less than 24 hours after she served us this removal notice she came to demolish the place.”
Adamu claimed that a space was provided in the market for the Onoja faction, but the place is occupied by the Association of Truck Owners.
