The capital city of Imo State was in take-over by violence as Indigenes and security agencies clashed over the decision of the Government ...
The capital city of Imo State was in take-over by violence as Indigenes and security agencies clashed over the decision of the Government to demolish the popular Ekeukwu Market, Owerri. DON.ng investigation reveals that the capital of the state, Owerri was in total siege from 9 am till at the time of this report. The clash was triggered by the arrival of the demolishment team. As at 4pm, more than 4 lives were lost and others injured. Properties worth billions of Naira were damaged and destroyed.
DON interviewed an eye witness who pleaded anonymity has this to say: “due to refusal of the indigenes to comply with the state government’s directives to relocate the market without adequate arrangements for alternative places, three Owerri indigenes were shot by the security agency and as a result, in a reprisal attack, Owerri indigenes entered other quarters, setting it ablaze, with many casualties feared. Everyone is running helter-skelter. People are running away from stray bullets. Tear-gas everywhere. Owerri is hot at the moment. So far, five people are confirmed dead, including a 13-year old boy.”
Reacting to the event, a resident of Owerri, Onyekachi Ibezim reported to our correspondent that “It is most unreasonable to attempt in relocating Ekeukwu Market, Owerri without the people’s consent and proper consultations. Whoever introduced the idea of building international school at the current site of Ekeukwu Owerri is living under an illusion. All legal means must be used to resist this devious move by the government”.
Also, Michael Ude, a business owner at the Ekeukwu Market in an angry tone expresses his grievance to our reporter: “I think this action is completely ill-timed. The country is in an economic mess; the citizens are suffering as a result of maladministration caused by greedy politicians. Demolishing the market now worsens the hardship in the land. This should have been done properly, with adequate relocation arrangements. I weep because I can imagine the hardship this will cause our people.”
Meanwhile, residents and shop owners claimed that the Federal High Court had earlier issued an order in favour of the business owners at the market restraining the State Government from demolition and relocation of the Ekweuku Market, Owerri.
At as press time, our effort to speak with the Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for information was unsuccessful.
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