“Amnesty International Calls Wike’s Eviction and FCT Community Demolition ‘Illegal’”

Babatunji Wusu –

Amnesty International (AI), the renowned international human rights organization, has condemned the ongoing demolition of communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the administration of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT. AI has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of exploiting the issue of insecurity as a pretext to forcibly evict residents of these communities and transfer the land to private developers.

In a statement released on Sunday, Amnesty International expressed deep concern over the impact of these demolitions on the already struggling residents, who are being rendered homeless amid widespread hunger and economic hardship. The organization emphasized that these actions violate both international and regional human rights laws, particularly regarding the rights of displaced individuals.

AI further criticized the Nigerian government’s use of “insecurity” as a justification for the forced evictions, calling it a blatant contradiction since the same government fails to provide adequate security in these areas. The human rights group noted that the FCT authorities are punishing the poor for the government’s own failures in urban planning, resulting in the displacement of vulnerable communities during one of the worst economic crises the country has faced in three decades.

Amnesty International pointed out that these forced evictions are not an isolated incident but are part of a broader pattern in Nigeria, where the poor are violently displaced to make way for the rich and powerful. The organization condemned the actions of the FCT administration, describing them as a severe violation of human dignity that destroys livelihoods and disrupts the education of children. According to international and regional human rights law, forced evictions are illegal, and Amnesty International has called for an immediate halt to the demolitions.