A high ranking officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele, has reportedly used his military might and demolished a twin flat housing four units of houses belonging to Dr. Andrew Ayabam and a rice farm, all in Makurdi.
The sprawling building belonging to the one-time Executive Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), is located on a street off George Akume way behind Bright Star Academy in the Benue State capital.
Air Commodore Ayodele on September 4, 2024 came with a low bed carrying an excavator to the said buildings which, according to findings, was not in contest.
It was equally gathered that Air Commodore Ayodele was concerned about access road which was his reason for bringing an excavator to enable him get access road to his property.
But on arrival at the site of the piece of land where Ayabam’s houses were erected, roofed, plumbing and electrical work also done, the Air Force officer completely destroyed the buildings and nothing was left to use.
Another victim, Mr Godwin Akor, whose rice farm was destroyed in the process, wondered why the Air Commodore chose to destroy the buildings and his rice farm which were not on the said access road.
Akor informed that Ayabam had dragged the Nigerian Police to court for harassing him on the directive of Air Commodore and won the case which damages amounting to N1million was awarded against them, though he chose not to enforce the judgment. He therefore wondered why the Air Force officer chose to demolish the houses and the rice farm.
An eyewitness account has it that when the equipment arrived, no one imagined it was meant for destruction of people’s property.
It was also learnt that Commodore Ayodele is facing multiple legal cases, particularly on issues that were not unconnected with land in the community, just as the kindred head of the community is also in dispute with him on the same issue.
Commodore Ayodele was unreachable as at the time of filing this report., but contacted, Dr. Ayabam told NATIONAL ACCORD, “I am determined to seek justice over the wrongful and unnecessary use of military power.”