Nasarawa traders protest illegal seizure of Lafia market land

Traders operating under the Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association have staged a protest over what they described as an unlawful takeover of a parcel of land in Lafia.

The disputed property, known as the Old Store site and located near the newly constructed Lafia flyover, is said to have been encroached upon by unidentified individuals suspected to be influential figures in the state.

The traders called on the Nasarawa State Government to urgently intervene, raising concerns over alleged illegal activities on land they said belongs to the government.

According to the association, the land was originally occupied by traders before it was acquired by the government for development purposes, with occupants relocated to another part of Lafia.

Speaking during the protest on Monday, the association’s chairman, Turaki Gamji, said the encroachment began on Sunday when unknown persons reportedly moved onto the land, marked out plots and began allocation.

He said despite attempts to halt the activity, the individuals returned early Monday morning to continue digging and demarcation.

“We discovered that government land was being shared by people we cannot identify. We stopped them, but they came back again early this morning and resumed work,” Gamji stated.

He noted that the land holds deep historical significance, having been occupied by the forebears of the traders for over 200 years before they relinquished it to enable government-led development initiatives.

“Our people agreed to vacate after compensation, believing the land would be used for investments that would benefit future generations. What we are seeing now is disappointing,” he added.

Gamji said rising tension at the site nearly led to a confrontation before officials stepped in to calm the situation.

He disclosed that officials from the state Ministry of Lands, including top management staff, visited the site and denied any knowledge of fresh allocations, insisting no approval had been granted for private use of the property.

“The officials assured us that no one can occupy government land without proper authorisation, and they are unaware of what is happening here,” he said.

The association warned members of the public against falling victim to fraudulent land deals, urging prospective buyers to verify property documents with the appropriate authorities before making payments.

Gamji stressed that the group would continue to monitor the site to ensure it remains available for the development projects originally planned by the government.