APC Supporters Invade Government Plots In Sokoto

In the aftermath of the 2023 governorship election in Sokoto State, followers of the APC in the state have embarked on self allocation of government plots in the state capital, 25 days to the handover of government.

The APC candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto was declared winner of the 2023 governorship election in the state by INEC, which the PDP is challenging at the election tribunal in the state.

Land reserved for an ongoing state government water supply project in Gagi Area has been appropriated by APC supporters, who have already commenced sale of the plots. There is a similar development at Bado Area, where government reserved land has been taken over by APC supporters and being sold to buyers.

In reaction to the development, the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Muhammad Jabbi has issued a statement, alerting potential buyers from “entering into transactions on government land that is illegally acquired by unscrupulous individuals.” The statement explained that the plots in question are part of land earmarked by the state government for the ongoing water project in the community, adding that the Gagi District has no stake in the ownership of the land.

Another press statement by the State Ministry of Land, Housing, Survey and Town Planning warned members of the public from trespassing into the reserved land at Gagi and other areas or entering into any illegal transactions on the plots. The statement, which was signed by the PRO of the Ministry, Dodo Iya Muktar, cautioned the general public on “illegal land activities being carried out by some unpatriotic people on land sites acquired by government for water projects at Gagi, Tamaje and other project sites in sokoto state. It urged the general public to “refrain from illegal land grabbing, sale or construction on such government lands”, saying “tempering with such land will no doubt affect the effort of government in bringing development to the people particularly the ongoing water projects initiated by the past administration.”

Some residents of the areas where the plots are located have expressed concern over the development. Auwal Dan Yaro, who has lived in Gagi for 25 years said he is alarmed by the conduct of the APC supporters in question.
“If this is a taste of what we’ll get from APC, then we should brace ourselves for worse crisis. It’s sad that supporters of a governor-elect can display this type of crass behavior before he’s even sworn-in.”

Mamman Isuhu, an owner of a farm close to the plots narrated that his farm was taken over by the trespassers and was about to be sold away, when he intervened. “The Invaders then told me to pay the price for the land, if I wished to reclaim my farm, which my family has cultivated for over 30 years.”
Isuhu called on leaders of APC in Sokoto State to restrain their followers,“ otherwise, we have no reason not to believe they’re sanctioning their activities.”