Traders in Umuchieze Cattle market, Umunnochi LGA have appealed to the State government to allow them to do their businesses from the market, promising never to accommodate criminals. The appeal following the directive by the Abia State government that Cattle market in Umuchieze, the State should only operate as a daily market and not on residential basis.
The leaders of the market who comprised of Northern traders and some indigenes of Umuchieze, made the appeal when they interacted with some officials of the Abia State government. The leader of the Northern traders, Alhaji Saleh Algare, who said that genuine traders in the market are not involved in criminality, said that they will never accommodate criminals.
While thanking the Abia State government for taking bold steps against criminal elements in the market and other parts of Umuchieze, the traders added that a peaceful relationship has always existed between the Northern traders and their host communities in for many years.
Alhaji Saleh Algare dismissed the reports that Northerners were given quit notice in the market, said such report was not true, as according to him, the administration of Governor Alex Otti has been accommodating to Northerners.
Also speaking, the leader of Hausa community in Abia State, Alhaji Yaro Danladi , said traders in Umuchieze would never harbor criminals in their homes and shops, adding that his members are ready to more discussion with the Abia State government on the way forward.
Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Security matters, Navy Commander Mac Donald Uba, said the State government’s decision to make the Cattle market to function as daily market, was aimed at securing lives and property of Abia residents as well as ridding the area of criminals, adding that the decision would be implemented.
It would be recalled that Abia State government on Monday, said that the Lopkpanta Cattle market would now operate as a daily market, explaining that the directive was to rid the place of criminal elements and eventually protect lives and property of innocent people.
The State government had also denied giving quit notice to Northern traders in the market, saying that the reports were fake. Also, about 160 shanties, said to be used for prostitution, organ harvesting, kidnappings, ransom payment and armed robbery, were demolished by the State government, at Lokpanta Cattle market.
