Human Rights Commission to investigate planned demolition of Mpape

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced investigation into the planned eviction and demolition of Mpape, a slum in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The Chairman of the commission, Chidi Odinkalu said the NHRC plan to convene a meeting with the Federal Capital Development Authority and Mpape residents to ensure that the planned demolition of the area does not infringe on the rights of residents of the area.
During a visit to the area, residents appealled to the Federal Government to stop the planned demolition of houses in the community.
They said the demolition will affect houses belonging to the Gbagyi people who are the original indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory.
While inspecting some of the marked residential houses, some Mpape elders told Mr. Odinkalu that 110 schools as well as 90 private hospitals and thousands of women and children will be displaced without any plan of resettlements.
The Federal Government has accused the slum of habouring members of the dreaded Islamist sect Boko Haram, a claim the residents do not agree with.
The residents, who continue to decry the insensitive nature of the exercise, noted that news of the planned demolition has sparked off an upsurge of crime and insecurity in the area.
Mr. Odinkalu has promised to bring both parties together to resolve the matter fairly.