The Northern Community residing within Umuchieze Cattle Market in Abia State has made a fervent appeal to Governor Alex Otti, urging permission to continue living within the market premises, disputing claims made during a recent media briefing by Governor Otti. The community’s plea, primarily composed of cattle traders, was conveyed during a press conference held at the market in response to the government’s intention to convert the area into a non-residential space due to security concerns.
Governor Otti had expressed apprehensions regarding security challenges in the Umuennochi/Isuikweato area, labelling the market as a hub for criminal activities and kidnappings. Consequently, he had instructed the traders to relocate to neighboring communities to reside among the local residents, alleging the presence of decomposed bodies, headless remains, and skeletons in the market area.
The community’s spokesperson, Buba Abdullahi, vehemently opposed the government’s allegations, disputing claims about decomposed bodies and criminal elements present in the market. Abdullahi accused the media of failing to investigate the assertions before dissemination and portrayed the government’s remarks as a pretext for planned eviction from the land they’ve occupied since 2005, specifically noting recent demolition of market houses as part of this purported plan.
Abdullahi emphasized the Northern Community’s population of 15,000 people occupying around 80 hectares of land initially allocated by the previous government. He argued that if the government followed through with plans to fence the market, demolish their houses, and enforce relocation to nearby villages, it would effectively result in their eviction from Abia.
He stressed the community’s peaceful coexistence and the imbalance in treatment, highlighting the acceptance of southerners conducting business in the North without facing harassment or eviction. This disparity underscores the injustice of restricting any Nigerian from residing where they choose within the country.
In addition to contesting the government’s claims, Abdullahi acknowledged the prevalence of high crime rates in the Umuchieze area, mentioning instances where members of their community had fallen victim to such criminal activities. The spokesperson expressed the community’s willingness to collaborate with the state government to address the prevailing security challenges in the region.
Reported by Chibuike Ezekwesili
News Editor: Okuh Ikeme
