There is tension around Tudun Wada community of Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State following a clash between victims of demolished houses and members of the Fuanter family over a land dispute.

The trouble started on Monday morning when members of the Fuanter family arrived at the disputed land to begin laying the foundation for a new building, which the victims from the community, whose houses were demolished, protested against.

This development led to the intervention of the police to avert the problem.

Our correspondent gathered that the police told both parties to vacate the area.

Daily Trust reports that on October 22 and 24, the victims of the demolished houses accused some youths, backed by the police, of storming the community and demolishing their houses.

The victims also accused Festus Volnoe Fuanter, former APC deputy secretary and current Board Chairman of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), of championing the demolition.

However, the Board Chairman, in a telephone call with our correspondent, denied the allegation, saying he was not behind the destruction of the houses.

The police had earlier told our correspondent that they were aware of the destruction but would confirm from the area.

In a press conference in Jos on Monday, following the rising tension in the area, victims of the demolished houses insisted that the demolition of their houses, carried out by the youths and the police, was illegal, as the case over the matter is still in the Court of Appeal, Jos.

Yusuf Isa, one of the victims of the demolition, who led the press conference in Jos, told journalists that they had bought and built their houses since 2013, and all documents related to the land are available to them.

He said, “ Our houses and property worth millions of naira were destroyed during the invasion. We condemn this act. The Pearson that sold the land to residents of the community Alh. Muhammed Luba, two decades ago has been arrested since and still in detention in Shendam police station for doing nothing despite his health challenges. Our houses were destroyed and now they want to take over the land from us because we are nobody in the eyes of the police. ”

“We are appealing to the National assembly and other relevant authorities to come to our aid as we have been rendered destitute. We are also appealing to the inspector general of police to order an investigation into the incident in Shendam to ascertain the level of involvement of Plateau state police command in the illegal invasion and destruction of our houses and ensure justice is done.

“We are confident that Nigeria is not yet that banana Republic where only the fittest survive. We are governed by law. The rule of law Is greatly upheld. People occupying privileged positions in the Country are not above but below the law.

“They must not only obey the law but must be seen to do so. They must not be allowed to take law into their hands and go away with it. They must be brought to book like any other Nigerian. They must account for their actions no matter how highly placed in society.” (Daily Trust)