Hundred of houses and other residential buildings were demolished, at Graceland behind the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State as the state authorities began a major demolition exercise on Monday.

Many residents of the area were seen wailing and weeping, as they evacuated their properties from the demolished houses in a hurry before the operation of the bulldozer deployed by the Kaduna State Urban Property Development Authority (KASUPDA) for the exercise.

Sources said the land, on which the demolished houses were sited, belongs to the Aviation College. The communities and the college have been battling in court over the ownership of the land.

A resident and eyewitness stated that since last Saturday, “many people have started vacating their area and subsequently removing their valuables to avoid being destroyed.”

Anotherresident appealed to the government “to have mercy and consider our situation and assist us.”

The residents said that they acquired the land legally with all the legal documents from the government.

Sources said the soldiers deployed to enforce the demolition shot indiscriminately.

When the Police Spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige was contacted on phone to comment on the allegation of shooting by soldiers and death of some of the residents, he said “I have not received the report yet”.

“Please, give me some few moments to get the true situation and I will get back to you,” Jalige said.

(The Guardian)