(BIG STORY)
By Managing Editor
© Residents laments increasing spates of criminal activities within the embattled estate.
©Zamfara housing ministry said it has reached out to the contractor.
©Police promises security survilannce within Saminaka area.
The attention of this medium had been drawn to the recent development at TSAUNI area of Gusau the Zamfara State capital on how some miscreant elements have converted a non completed government estate to a human abattoir.
The estate in question was the one started by former Governor Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar and abandoned uncompleted.
According to a source, it was a multi-billion naira project started by the former Governor as part of his passion to cushion the hardship of housing deficit as well contribute to housing revolution.
According to some sources, the quarters which was to be completed at the first tenure of former Governor Abdul Aziz Yari 2011-2015 could not be completed although all materials required for the project to be completed were provided.
He said when Matawalle administration came on board effort were made to ensure that the estate was fixed to use but at a point, the job could not proceed further again, and instead it was abandoned.
He lamented that, despite huge amount of money government invested from the scratch of the project to its present status, the job is becoming wasted since the structure is depreciating day by day.
THE PUBLIC FEAR ABOUT THE ABANDONED PROJECT
The residents of the area are raising concern that since the project was abandoned, some miscreants have taken advantage of its exclusivity to turn it to a hideout for smoking and drinking of toxic substances.
They also said the consequences of the miss use of that place resulted to people facing multiple number of threats from these miscreants, hence residents no longer feel safe passing through that abandoned estate even on the broad-day light.
“The circumstance is even more scary at night as the suspicious movement of these miscreants scared residents for fear of them breaking into the houses of the people for robbery or kidnapping” a source added.
A source who is a resident of the area told this medium that there were recorded cases of murder involving the miscreants hiding in that estate, as more than five people were allegedly murdered by the miscreants using that place as their hideouts.
They lamented further that, their children have been facing serious threat from these miscreants who have been using every slightest opportunity to kill or rape women and minors.
They said they have made several attempts to speak to the authorities to come to their aides and make the place secured, noting that the development is making people to become much more scared.
Alh Lawal is a resident of the area he said, “just last week a staff of the state internal revenue was abducted by some gunmen very close to the estate and because of the complex nature of that place, not many people were willing to come out and offer a rescue mission for the victim”.
ANOTHER ESTATE STARTED BY BARDEN GUSAU IS CONSTITUTING EMINENT DANGER TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.
Not per distance from the same estate, residents said another estate which was started by Shehu Isah Barden Gusau but also abandoned had constituted similar threat to the security and safety of the people of the area.
A source Abdulmajid Muhammad said, “while residents of the area are developing palpable fear over the abandoned estate discussed earlier, other sets of miscreants are taking advantage of another abandoned estate situated very closer to the other one to be demonstrating some immoral behaviors.
The estate is said to be started by a contractor one Shehu Isah Barden Gusau but noted that they could not establish the status of the place that is whether if the estate is still in the hand of Barden Gusau or he had handed it over to the owners.
They argued that recently the residents had begun to see element of miscreants taking that abandoned property over; hence people have been warned from accessing that place anymore for their safety.
They said it is important for the government to either take the property over from the developer and develop it to finishing, or in alternative disposed it out to interested bidders to owned and develop.
ZAMFARA HOUSING MINISTRY SAID IT HAS REACHES OUT TO THE CONTRACTOR
The Zamfara state Commissioner for housing and town planning Alh Mukhtar Muhammad Darma has told the Managing Editor of this medium that the Ministry had last week reached out to the contractor Sahabi Liman Dan Masanin Kaura concerning the status of the estate.
The commissioner said, they have written to Alh Sahabi Liman and gave him two options of either mobilizing back to the site to complete the project or else the Ministry will make appropriate valuation and demand for refund of the money paid to him.
He said in their letter they have made their point-blank and clear that if the contractor has refused to continue or make the appropriate refund to the state government coffers they will drag him to court.
He said the steps taken were in clear consultation with the state Governor and he as the Commissioner had personally visited the estate and see things for himself.
POLICE WILL MAKE INQUIRIES AND TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA
Zamfara police Spokesperson SP Shehu Muhammad has declared that, the state police command has not received formal complaint from the residents of Tsauni area but noted that, it will, however, make inquiries and take appropriate steps.
Shehu said police would be sent on surveillance to monitor the area and arrest any miscreant that is capable of causing breakdown of law and order.
He assured the residents of the area that, police will always be on the ground to ensure that security is beefed up around the area.
