There was pandemonium in Abuja after soldiers allegedly following the directives of an army general assaulted development control officials in Sabon Lugbe Area, who were present to dismantle certain illegal structures in the vicinity.

The officials were acting in the order of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

It was gathered that the officials, on Wednesday, December 18, targeted the fence of a property located on Plot 416, reportedly owned by a Major General.

However, upon their arrival, soldiers, who were in a vehicle with obscured license plates, obstructed the exit from the property, thereby preventing the enforcement team from leaving the premises, while issuing threats that someone would die that day.

Gun shots were reportedly fired as the soldiers make efforts to scare the development officials.

“During this operation, there was an incident that happened at Plot 416 Sabon Lugbe that belongs a Major General.

“When the removal was going on, the Major General got information of the removal. He sent two soldiers to his house to ascertain the situation.

“Private Jamilu (surname unknown) went straight to the caterpillar operator, cocked his rifle and pointed straight to him to come down or risk being shot immediately.

“He politely came down but was grabbed by the two soldiers who squeezed his neck with his clothes, beat him mercilessly and tore his shirt.

“Private Jamilu pulled his rifle and fired the four tyres of the caterpillar flat. He then called the Major General to come along with more soldiers for re-enforcement, and he came with them in numbers.

“He ordered his men to take Sector Sodangi and his site officer to his house, beat them even right from outside alongside six enforcement officials who where also taken hostage for hours.

“Three Hilux vehicles were taken to the Major General’s house while the remaining vehicles that they could not lay hands on had their tyres flattened with gun shots.

“On receiving the information, the DPO Trademore came to the scene but the Major General refused to take compliments nor listen to her. She left and said she would come back,” Vanguard quoted an official of the department as saying.