Hundreds of protesters on Saturday stormed major parts of Abuja as human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, led a massive demonstration against alleged land grabbing and privatization of public spaces in the Federal Capital Territory.
The protesters accused the administration of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of forcefully taking over lands allegedly acquired legally by individuals and communities before reallocating them to political allies and associates.
The protest, which attracted hundreds of residents, activists, and civil society supporters, centered heavily around the growing controversy surrounding Jabi Lake and Jabi Park, with demonstrators insisting that the recreational and environmental landmarks belong to the people and must not be converted into private assets.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Save Jabi Lake Now,” “Save Jabi Park Now,” and “Stop Land Grabbing in Abuja,” the protesters marched through strategic areas of the capital while chanting solidarity songs and demanding immediate government action.
The atmosphere became more intense as protesters openly accused top government officials of enabling what they described as systematic land seizures across Abuja.
Chants of “Wike is a land thief” and “Tinubu is a land thief” echoed repeatedly during the demonstration as angry residents expressed frustration over what they called the commercialization and privatization of public assets under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking during the protest, Sowore insisted that public spaces such as Jabi Lake must be protected from political and commercial interests, warning that continuous encroachment on environmental and recreational zones could set a dangerous precedent for abuse of public trust and urban development laws in the nation’s capital.
The protesters further demanded transparency in land allocation processes within the FCT and called for an immediate halt to every alleged illegal revocation and redistribution of lands across Abuja.
Security operatives monitored the protest as demonstrators continued their march peacefully through parts of the city.
As of the time of filing this report, the protest was still ongoing, with more supporters reportedly joining the movement to demand the protection of Jabi Lake and other public spaces in Abuja.