Nation
Abia plans to convert the Lokpanta Cattle market to daily market
From Peter Okore, Umuahia
Abia state government says it would convert the Lokpanta cattle market on the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Express-way by Umunneochi, to a modern daily market instead of it being used as residential homes for cattle dealers.
The measure, the government said, is in the interest of Nigerian citizens and the cattle dealers.
The government also debunked rumours that it has directed that northerners residing and doing their legitimate businesses in Abia back to their states in the North.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Navy Commander Macdonald Ubah (rtd), who dropped this hint while briefing Journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, explained that the decision to establish a daily market at the Lokpanta-Uturu axis of the state had been under siege by criminal elements in the last couple of years, including the kidnapping of an Archbishop and others.
He further pointed out that the major the reason for the step recently taken by the State Government was to eliminate the spate of kidnappings and other criminal activities in the area.
“ The stand of government is that the market would no longer be residential, but a daily market. Government will not rescind the decision. The traders should enter the various communities there, rent houses and be coming to market on daily basis. At the close of business everyday , all go back to their residents, while security agencies protect the market,” he said.
According to Ubah preliminary investigation carried out in the area revealed that the Lokpanta Cattle Market had been a major hide- out for all kinds of individuals involved in different criminal activities, including kidnappings, organ harvesting, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
The retired Naval Commander hinted that ransom paid in cash for kidnap-victims around the Uturu-Umunneochi axis were paid in the market, a situation which prompted the government to, among other measures, carry out deliberate actions including demolition of brothels and shanties in the market.”
Over 100 rooms used as brothels were allegedly demolished and millions of Naira cash recovered there.
The security officer used the opportunity to described as “false” the news making the rounds that it has directed Northerners, who live and conduct their businesses at the Lokpanta Cattle Market, around the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway by Umunneochi, to leave the state.
He declared that there is no iota of truth in the fake news as those Northerners ‘are the second and third generations of Igbos’ living in Lokpanta.
Ubah, who described Governor Alex Otti, as a detribalised Nigerian, having appointed non-Abians into his cabinet, noted that most of the cattle dealers in the state are second and third generations of Igbos, and therefore the Governor Otti-led government could not have given such directive.
He told the media that he had. on two occasions, held meetings with the leadership of the market unions, where he informed them of government’s decision to make the market a daily one for security reasons.” But just a day to the next meeting day, the fake rumour started making the rounds in the social media”, he concluded.
Meanwhile , as some journalists visited the Cattle market located at Umuchieze, Umunneochi LGA of Abia state (Tuesday,17/10/2023),led by the chief secretary to the governor, Kazie Uko, the traders appealed to the Abia state government to allow them stay in the market and transact their genuine businesses.
In his reaction, the Chairman of the cattle market, Alhaji Saleh Algare.
Alhaji Algare who lauded the Abia state government for its recent onslaught against criminals in the area leading to the demolition of shanties and Brothels in the market, said that they are genuine traders doing their legitimate businesses and would not harbour criminals in the market.
Alhaji Algare thanked the state Governor, Dr Alex Otti for the show of love and hospitality to the northern community in the state, maintaining that contrary to the reports making the rounds, nobody asked them to leave the state, as they have been co-habiting with their host community who have also been friendly with them.
Also speaking to newsmen, the leader of the Hausa community in the state, Sarkin Yaro Danladi said they will not habor criminals in the market, adding that they are ready for more discussions with the state government on the way forward.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Retired Navy Commander Macdonald Ubah, said that the essence of the visit was to clarify issues to the traders in the market on the decision of government to transform the market into a daily one where security of lives and properties of the traders would be guaranteed as had been stated in previous meetings with the leadership of the market.
Navy commander Ubah stated that the information circulating on social media, claiming that the government ordered traders in the market to leave Abia, was untrue as government’s decision to make the market a daily one was in the over all interest of the traders.
He urged the citizenry to disregard the rumour about the sacking of Northern traders from the Abia state, adding that it was the handiwork of mischief makers, suspected to be the opposition parties in Abia state.
