The people of Eziama Nneato Community in Umunnochi Local Government Area of Abia State have thrown their weight behind the decision of the Abia State Government to provide security in Umuchieze Cattle Market and other parts of Umunnochi.
A group of cattle dealers in Umuchieze Cattle Market, Umunnochi LGA recently, dragged the government to court to challenge its decision to stop traders from residing in the market.
The case, which is coming up on March 13 2024 , is marked No.HUM/9/2024, and was filed by 12 persons and has the Abia State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chaka Chukwumerije; Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Ikechuckwu Uwanna; and Chairman of Umunnochi LGA, Ndubuisi Ike, as respondents.
But the youth wing of Eziama Nneato Development Union, which spoke through its President and Secretary General, Dr Uchenna Alagor and Achike Ephraim, in Umuahia during their visit to Hon. Mathias Ume, the House of Assembly member representing Umunnochi constituency, said the Governor was right in his decision to ensure that the Lokpanta market did not operate as a residential market.
The community urged to Governor to continue with the plan and not to be disturbed by pressure or criticism coming from anyone or groups opposing the market remodelling policy.
They noted that the several communities suffered different forms of insecurity as a result of attacks by bandits but expressed happiness that the situation has drastically been tackled by the government’s security initiatives.
The Eziama Nneato people urged the Governor to go ahead with his plans, saying that they would support his administration to succeed in the development of Umunnochi and the State at large.
Responding to his constituents, Ume assured the Eziama Nneato people and other communities in Umunnochi that they would continue to enjoy security and general development from the Abia State Government.
OsunDailyNG recalls that Governor Alex Otti had, while addressing journalists in October, 2023, disclosed that 70 decomposing corpses were discovered in forests near the Lokpanta Cattle Market, by security agencies.
The Governor made it clear that the market would be fenced and made a daily trading environment, not a residential area.
