#Human Rights
Target:
Government authorities, public
Region:
Nigeria
Website:
www.spacesforchange.blogspot.com

On the orders of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Nigerian Army, heavily-armed soldiers and mobile police officers invaded Gosa 1 village, located along the Airport Road, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and demolished homes, businesses, churches, mosques, schools, farmlands, crops, shrines, and important cultural relics belonging to indigenous Gbagyi farmers and low-income residents.

The Thursday, April 26, 2012 demolitions - carried out without prior notice, payment of compensation or provision of alternate shelter - left thousands homeless, including children, the youth, women and the aged people who had lived on the land from time immemorial.

Ten days after the demolitions, scores of families continue to live near the ruins of their demolished homes because "they have no where else to go", and cannot afford the soaring rental costs in the city.

SPACES FOR CHANGE strongly condemns the violent demolition of a poor indigenous settlement by men of the Nigerian Army on Thursday, April 26, 2012.

We urge the Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the circumstances of the demolitions and accompanying gross violations of human rights perpetrated by armed security security forces.

We demand the authorities to take immediate steps to provide relief in the form of alternative housing and/or fair compensation to all indigenes and residents evicted from the Gosa 1 community.

GoPetition respects your privacy.

The "REFUGEES IN OUR HOMELAND": RESETTLE GOSA EVICTEES NOW! petition to Government authorities, public was written by Spaces for Change and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.