Emelam Udo, Umuahia
Following the reported recovery 50 decomposing and 20 headless bodies in the Umuchieze Cattle market, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State,the Leadership of the Market, have absolved themselves from the crime.
They therefore pleaded with Governor Alex Otti to allow them live there because of the nature of their trade.
During a Press Conference organized by the leadership of the market,. the Northern Community pleaded with the Government of Abia state not to chase them away from the land which they have been occupying since 2005.
The Community in her address signed by Saleh Algare and Auwal Hamma, Chairman and Secretary General alongside 13 others and read by Buba Abdullahi Kedemure said Governor Alex Otti has the to evict them from the land should handle such in due process.
The group expressed dismay over how some Media Houses reported the story without investigating or hear their own side of the story .
They noted that Abia Government has the right to provide adequate security in and around Umuchieze Cattle market.
“We Northerners are peace -loving people and very accommodating, as this explains why Southerners in the North doing their businesses without harassment and threat of eviction.”they said.
The Cattle dealers disclosed that most of them were born in Umuahia and they have no other state than Abia.
They disclosed that investigation available to them from Security Agencies in Umunneochi Local Government Area indicated that the said decomposed, headless bodies and skeletons were were neither in the Cattle market nor around the cattle market.
They queried who and who are the relatives of the said decomposed bodies, 20 headless bodies and human skeletons discovered in the Cattle market.
They further noted that 80 hectares of land was duly allocated to them on the right of Enugu -Port Harcourt Express Way by the Abia state government in 2005 and was not predicated on any condition, save for Northern Community to maximally utilize it for the purpose of cattle trading and other allied business transactions, residential quarters and a motor Park.
The Leadership of the market disclosed that all the shanties and brothels demolished in the market were erected by the natives.
Asking us to live outside the market tantamounts to asking us to leave because our goods most times arrive in the midnight or early hours of the day”they noted.
They pleaded with Governor Alex Otti not to drive them out of the market.
END.
