Amnesty International has condemned the violent crackdown by security forces on residents of Karsana, Abuja, who were protesting forced evictions carried out by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration. According to the organization, police officers reportedly opened fire on civilians attempting to retrieve their belongings after bulldozers demolished their homes.
The demolition, which took place on November 6, 2024, was executed by the FCT Special Task Team under “Operation Sweep,” targeting the Ruga community. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, displacing over 20,000 families.
In a statement, Amnesty International described the FCT administration’s actions as a blatant violation of human rights, noting that the evictions were carried out without prior notice, consultation, compensation, or plans for resettlement.
“The ongoing forced evictions in the FCT reflect a broader pattern of state-led urban development that punishes people living in poverty,” the organization said. “Using vague claims of ‘insecurity’ and ‘nuisance’ to justify demolitions and transfer land to private developers is not only discriminatory, it further entrenches inequality.”
Amnesty also criticized the government’s failure to provide essential infrastructure and security in the affected communities, only to later cite the lack of such services as justification for demolition.
“The development of Abuja must not come at the cost of violently excluding vulnerable communities,” the statement added. “Such actions only deepen Nigeria’s stark social and economic inequalities.”
Amnesty International urged the Nigerian government and the FCT authorities to halt all forced evictions, respect the rights of affected residents, and adopt inclusive urban policies that prioritize human dignity and social justice.
