By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
There was a pandemonium over the weekend when some communities surrounding the Shadawanka Army Barracks in Bauchi metropolis protested over forceful ejection and confiscation of their houses, farmlands allegedly by the Bauchi Emirate Council and the Nigerian Army which the communities have been hosting for decades.
The communities, in a popular protest that comprised men and Women carrying placards, chanting solidarity songs blocked Bauchi Jos road Federal Highway forcing travelers and commuters stranded for several hours to press for the demand of giving back their rights and privileges.
However, the intervention of the security adviser to the State Governor, Retired Brigadier General Marcus Yake convinced the crowded protesters to open the road with a pledge that Government and all stakeholders will meet to resolve the matter amicably within 24 hours.
Some protesters that spoke to reporters included a 25 year-old Habibu Abubakar, Aishatu Sani (54) and Hadiza Ahmadu (70) all of whom said they have been in their forefathers’ familial villages for over 150 years, and have been utilizing same for residential, grazing, farming, as their only means of livelihood.
They recalled that even during Gowon military administration of the 1970’s when shadawanka barracks was constructed they are living there and the barracks is separated from the communities, but between 1982 to 1985 when shadawanka was demarcated as Shadawanka barracks and Obienu barracks, the communities did not in any way form part of the two barracks.
The communities alleged that in 2019 a memorandum of understanding was prepared by the Bauchi Emirate Council and some members of the community were out of illiteracy forced to sign the document which, unknown to them, was not made in good faith.
Over the weekend, representatives of the Bauchi emirate council and that of the Shadawanka barracks forcibly asked the communities to vacate the lands in the pretext that the army want to fence its land for security reasons.
“But as true citizens of Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees us the rights to ownership of lands, we may recall that few of the communities were paid compensation, others were not, so how can they wholesomely eject us from our lands”, they queried.
The communities further recalled that when the matter came up sometimes back, even Nigerian army that marshals the barracks traced that they didn’t pay these communities a dime dates back when the shadawanka barracks was constructed in the ‘70’s.
The communities therefore appealed to the Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed Abdukadir to intervene in the dispute and save them from the catastrophe of confiscating their means of livelihood under his watch.
The communities which are in five settlements hosting the barracks, also stressed the need, as citizens of the state, be preserved with fair, just and respect
When contacted, a source at the Bauchi emirate council who spoke in anonymity said, “The issue has been lingering for quite sometimes. I recall when General Tukur Buratai was the Chief of Army Staff, there was fracas between the army and the communities”.
The communities then, the source told reporters, took their complaint to the Bauchi emirate council which intervened and there was broker peace when the emirate reached Buratai who sought for amicable resolution on the issue, maintained status quo, and fencing was started in the non-disputed area.
Buratai then, appealed for caution and understanding to avoid anything that will lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.
Retired Brigadier General Yake retired said he intervened in the dispute by enlightening the community to understand that many of the people flying the road have nothing to do with the barracks or communities in dispute, and shouldn’t do anything that will lead to destruction of lives and properties.
Yake pledged to brief the governor and to summon all stakeholders meeting in order to resolve the matter amicably, pleading with the army and the contractors handling the project to maintain statuesque, while assuring that the matter will be resolve within shortest possible time.
