Despite a court ruling restraining the Federal Government from acquiring lands at Kuyan Ta Inna in Kano for a railway project, contractors linked to the Ministry of Transportation have resumed work at the site — raising tensions among landowners who say their rights are being ignored.
The disputed land belongs to 75 individuals, including widows, orphans, and low-income residents. The plots, located in a government-approved layout, are said to be worth over five million naira each.
In response to the attempted takeover, the landowners sued the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the project’s consulting firm, and security agencies involved, including the Nigerian Army.
The court ruled in their favour, barring the federal authorities from taking possession of the land.
Despite this, residents said contractors returned on June 19 and 20 to begin clearing the land.
“We confronted them with the court judgment,” said one of the affected landowners, “but they claimed they were not aware of any ruling.”
Witnesses said the contractors returned again on Saturday, June 21, accompanied by security personnel.
“The most disturbing part,” said another landowner, “is that this land belongs to people who can barely afford to survive. Some of the plots were inherited by orphans. Yet, the government agencies are ignoring a valid court order.”
The ongoing activity at the site has left landowners fearful, saying the government’s actions defy the rule of law and disregard their existence.
As of the time this report was filed, neither the Ministry of Transportation nor the consulting firm had issued a public explanation for ignoring the court ruling.
