Crisis in Imo over Forceful Relocation of Market, HURIWA Kicks

The forceful relocation of Eke Ukwu market - popularly known as Eke Onunwa, the ancestral market of Owere indigenes - by the government of Imo State yesterday ignited crisis and confusion in the state, leading to the death of a 12-yearold boy. Over eight people were seriously injured in shooting by security agencies drafted to quell the crisis.

Among those injured were a youth leader of Owerri Municipality, Mr. Leonard Ebubeagu, and seven others who sustained bullet wounds; as the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha kept his promise of forcefully ejecting the people of Owere ancestral market and part of the popular Ama Hausa quarters also along the Douglas Road.

The state government defended its action by stating that government took the action to recover Douglas Road that connects the state with other neighbouring States, which, according to her, had remained a refuse dump for the traders in the market, and to deal once and for all, with the prevalent criminal activities in the area like robbery, cultism and kidnapping. However, prominent citizens of the State condemned the action.

It was also gathered that the youths of Ohaji/Egbema local government, who were allegedly hired by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Engr. Kingsley Uju to thwart the re- sistance of the youths of Owere from stopping the demolition of the market, had themselves allegedly looted the wares of the traders who could not remove their goods from their shops before the commencement of the demolition exercise.

The governor had on Thursday issued a 24-hours quit order to the traders of Owere market popularly known as Ekeukwu Owere to vacate the market or risk their wares being destroyed alongside the market.