Katampe residents accuse Bwari Area Council of illegal extortion, seek Wike’s intervention

Residents of Katampe Extension in Abuja have raised alarm over what they describe as alleged illegal extortion and harassment being carried out by agents of the Bwari Area Council, accompanied by armed policemen and thugs.
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The residents allege that the operation, conducted under the guise of enforcing payment for radio and television licenses, has led to the unlawful arrest and detention of bystanders and domestic staff, leaving private residences vulnerable.
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‎In a statement signed by Mohammed Gimba, President of the Katampe Extension Residents Association (KERA), the residents outlined several points of concern, appealing for immediate intervention from the FCT Minister, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Judicial Service Commission.
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They alleged that thugs and armed policemen are reportedly raiding the district, indiscriminately bundling gatekeepers and the house helps into their trucks, leaving the gates of residences unsecured and wide open.
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Gimba described the situation as an act of impunity and a violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, stressing that the officials are arresting employees instead of the homeowners, which should be the actual targets of the levy.
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KERA contends that Katampe Extension falls under the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), not the Bwari Area Council, making the Bwari’s enforcement illegal.
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The residents argue that the contentious radio and TV license fee is a civil matter, which does not warrant the use of armed police for arrests and criminal detention.
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The chairman expressed concern that the levies are being paid into the accounts of a private company rather than the official Bwari Area Council account, which made residents scared of being extorted.
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KERA called on the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to call the Chairman of the Bwari Area Council to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in the district.
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