Villagers from four neighboring communities of Karamajiji, off Airport Road, Abuja, have cried out to the National Assembly to rescue them from the threat of demolition of their traditional homes by the Federal Government.

The residents, most of who were widows and aged people, trooped out en masse at the entrance of the National Assembly, on Wednesday, carrying placards, pleading that the government should temper justice with mercy and show consideration on their homes. The four villages are Rafinsayin; Angwangwuragu; Kuchingoro and Tundun Musira.

In response to News Express enquiry if there was a prior notice on evacuation of the area, a woman leader of the group, Mrs Aishat Abdulahi, said: “The Development Control officials of Abuja came to mark our houses for demolition on 19th of November, without any notice; and we felt it is illegal. And, the following day, we took our cry to the Federal Capital Development Agency (FCDA) to meet with the Director, but we did not meet him, unfortunately. But those who spoke with us assured us that there would be no demolition.”

“They said it was an order from above, because they learnt that some Boko Haram suspects are residing in our environment,” Aishat added. Another villager who spoke with utmost soberness, said: “We want the government to kindly help us stop the purported demolition, because some of us are widows with children. We are just managing our lives to survive in the village, and if our houses are demolished, there is nowhere for us to go.”

News Express also gathered from another resident, Halima Raji, in Rafinsayin, Karamajiji, that the allegation of insecurity in these villages, as claimed by the Federal Government, was not true. She averred: “We love ourselves; and we have been staying in peace with one another for a very long time. If the government is insisting that it would demolish our homes, we should be compensated so that we can secure another shelter elsewhere.”

•Photo shows National Assembly.