The Umuchieze community in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State is disputing Governor Alex Otti’s statement that 70 decomposing bodies, including headless ones, and numerous skeletons were found in the Lokpanta Cattle Market.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the community, Buba Abdullahi, expressed their lack of knowledge about the discovery of decomposing bodies around the market as claimed by Otti.
Governor Otti had previously announced that security agents discovered 70 bodies and skeletons during a raid in a forest near the cattle market.
He also mentioned that the market would be fenced and transformed from a weekly to a daily market.
However, Abdullahi stated the reservations of the northern community regarding Otti’s narrative.
He stated that the northern community perceives the government’s plan to make the market a daily market as a strategy to drive them out of the state.
Abdullahi disclosed that the market, spanning 80 hectares, was donated to traders in 2005, and the trader population exceeds 15,000.
He said, “According to our investigation from the security agencies in the Umunneochi Local Government Area, the decomposed bodies, headless bodies, and skeletons were not found in the cattle market or its surroundings. We did not see any corpses.
“If the government plans to fence the market, demolish our houses, and ask us to relocate to neighboring villages, it means they are forcefully driving us away from Abia State.
“The allegations by the Abia State Government are an attempt to tarnish the reputation of our community and create tension across the country.
“Some of the evidence includes the recent demolition of houses belonging to genuine cattle traders living in the market. The governor has the right to evict or drive us away from the land, but his continued negative portrayal of our community is concerning.
“Every Nigerian has the right to reside in any part of the country, as guaranteed by Section 41 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Northern residents are peaceful and accommodating, which is why many southerners can conduct their businesses in the North without harassment or threats of eviction.
“It is unjust, unfair, and against the principles of humanity to prevent any Nigerian, regardless of their tribe or religious affiliation, from residing in any part of Nigeria. Therefore, any attempt or threat to evict the northern community in Umuchieze Cattle Market in Abia State not only violates the constitution but also fuels disunity, chaos, and the disintegration of Nigeria. Most of the cattle traders here today were born and raised in Umuahia. Abia State is their only home.”
Abdullahi dismissed the misconception that the northern community harbors criminals.
“The northern community members are law-abiding Nigerian citizens engaged in legitimate cattle trade and related activities. Considering the high crime rate in Umunneochi today, moving to various communities in Umuchieze would be a tactical mistake for us.
“We earnestly appeal to His Excellency to allow us to continue living in the cattle market.”
He reassured that the northern community and traders in the market are ready to support all efforts by the state government to eradicate criminal activities in the market.
