There are few things as heartbreaking as watching years of sweat, sacrifice, and dreams reduced to rubble in a matter of hours. Few things as painful as standing helplessly, watching the walls you built brick by brick come crashing down—not by accident, not by natural disaster, but by the very hands meant to protect justice and fairness.
This is the unbearable reality that unfolded in Maiduguri, Borno State, where a legally acquired, fully documented building belonging to Hon. Attom Muhammad Magira was demolished without just cause. A structure that stood as a testament to diligence, perseverance, and rightful ownership was wiped away as though it had never existed. And for what? No official justification, no due process, no legitimate reason—just a reckless act that left devastation in its wake.
It is deeply disturbing that in a society governed by laws, someone can go through all the right channels—secure permits, obtain land titles, follow every legal step—and still wake up one morning to find their life’s investment bulldozed into dust.
What, then, is the purpose of legal documentation if those in power can disregard it at will? What message does this send to citizens who place their trust in the system? That their rights exist only at the convenience of those in authority?
A home or a building is not just bricks and mortar; it is the culmination of years of struggle, of sleepless nights, of financial sacrifice. It represents security, stability, and hope for the future. To rob someone of that without justification is more than an administrative action—it is an act of cruelty, an assault on human dignity.
The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum who holds the responsibility of serving and protecting the people, must answer for this injustice. If there was a legal issue with the building, why was due process not followed? If there was an infraction, why was there no official notice, no opportunity for the owner to respond? If the building had all its necessary approvals, what justification remains for such an inhumane act?
This is not merely a story of one man’s loss; it is a dangerous precedent. If such demolitions can happen without accountability, then no citizen’s property is safe. Today, it is one man’s building—tomorrow, it could be anyone’s. Governor Zulum must provide answers. Was this a mistake? Was it oversight? Or was it an outright display of power without accountability?
Whatever the case, silence cannot be an option. The people of Borno deserve a government that stands for them, not one that destroys their lives without remorse.
Governance must be rooted in fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law. Anything less is tyranny masquerading as leadership. It is imperative that the Borno State government answers for this destruction, offers redress to the family of Hon. Attom Muhammad Magira, and ensures that such blatant disregard for justice does not happen again. A society that tramples on its citizens’ rights is one that courts chaos. If justice is not upheld, then what foundation do we have left?
For every brick that was torn down, a story was erased. For every wall that fell, a dream was shattered. But the pain and injustice of this moment will not be forgotten. The people are watching, and history will judge.
