By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday fired tear gas canister to disperse protesters over the alleged exclusion of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, indigenes in the board of the North Central Development Commission, NCDC.
The protesters under the umbrella of the Original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, had staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, alleging marginalization of the territory’s indigenous communities and the nomination of a non indigene, Comrade Solomon Adodo to as representative of Abuja in the NCDC board.
Speaking during the protest, Secretary of the FCT Youth Stakeholders Forum, Comrade Zakari Gambo Babale, claimed that Adodo is not an indigene of the FCT but rather from Benue State, which he said already has four representatives in the commission.
The protesters demanded Adodo’s withdrawal and replacement with an FCT indigene who understands the challenges faced by the territory’s original inhabitants.
Also speaking, Pastor Danladi Jeji, President of FCT Original Inhabitants, expressed deep concerns about the alleged continued marginalization of the territory’s original natives.
Addressing the protesters, Jeji emphasized that Abuja must be recognized and treated as a state by 2027, with their state secretariat sited in Gwagwalada.
He highlighted that the nine tribes constituting the original inhabitants of the FCT – Amwamwa, Bassa, Egbira, Gade, Ganagana, Gbagyi, Gbari, Gwandara, and Koro – have been neglected for far too long.
Jeji demanded that their rights and interests be prioritized, stressing the need for equitable representation and development in the territory.
The situation later turned chaotic when police fired tear gas canister at the protesters which also affected journalists covering the protest.
Babale condemned the police action, alleging that the protesters were peacefully waiting to present their grievances to the National Assembly leadership before the police action.
He said their demand underscored the growing frustration among the FCT’s indigenous communities, who feel their voices are not being heard.
The post NCDC nomination: Police disperse FCT protesters with tear gas appeared first on Vanguard News.
