Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly condemned the police shooting of unarmed protesters in Karsana, Abuja, describing the act as “state-sponsored trauma.”

The shooting occurred during a protest by residents whose homes were recently demolished in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The demonstrators, attempting to retrieve belongings from their demolished houses, were reportedly fired upon by security operatives.

Two victims, Sunday Danjuma and Jacob Audu, sustained gunshot wounds and are currently being treated at Gwagwa Health Centre, according to community chairman Zakari Baba, who confirmed the incident.

In a statement released Wednesday, Senator Kingibe expressed outrage over the violence, saying “That bullets were fired at civilians, people merely trying to salvage their lives and dignity, is both unacceptable and indefensible. This is not law enforcement; it is state-sponsored trauma.”

The Senator, visibly angered by the incident, criticized the government's harsh and dehumanizing approach to urban development, especially against vulnerable populations.

 “We cannot build a just society by bulldozing communities without compassion or firing at citizens instead of listening to them,” 

“This incident represents a gross abuse of power and a violation of the fundamental rights of our people. The pain, fear, and indignity inflicted on these residents is something no human being deserves, least of all in our nation’s capital," she said.

Calling for an immediate and transparent investigation, Kingibe demanded that those responsible be held accountable and that victims be compensated and properly cared for.

 “The government must remember that its duty is to protect, not persecute. We must rethink this approach to urban development that treats our people as obstacles instead of stakeholders.”

She pledged to continue advocating for justice, warning that Abuja must not become a place where the poor “live in fear of their own government.”

 “This is a moment for sober reflection, not bureaucratic excuses. I will not stay silent while those I represent bleed,” she concluded.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for a more humane and inclusive housing policy in the FCT, especially as tensions rise over forced evictions and demolition exercises often carried out without adequate notice or compensation.