‘It Is Unfair’ – Northern Traders Debunk Alex Otti’s Claim Of Decomposing Corpses Uncovered In Abia

The Northern Community in Umuchieze Cattle Market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State has rejected the claims of Governor Alex Otti, about the discovery of decomposing corpses in the State.

Naija News reports that Otti while addressing the media earlier in the week, said a large number of decomposed and headless bodies, as well as skeletons, were discovered in the market located at Lokpanta in Umuchieze.

Expressing concern over the state of insecurity at the Umuennochi/Isuikweato axis, the Governor said the market had become a den of criminals and kidnappers, noting that most ransoms for kidnapping were dropped around the market.

He insisted that the government was going ahead with its plan to make the market non-residential, ordering the traders to live with the natives in the neighbouring communities.

Reacting to the order, the spokesperson for the Northern community, Buba Abdullahi, expressed dissatisfaction with the Governor’s claim about the market being littered with decomposed corpses.

Abdullahi put their population at 15,000, saying they occupied about 80 hectares of the land donated to them by the Orji Kalu-led government.

He said the allegation from Alex Otti is a plot to chase them away from the State, stressing it is unfair to prevent any Nigerian from staying in any part of the country.

Abdullahi appealed to the government to allow the traders to reside inside the market, considering the high crime rate in Umuchieze communities.

He also expressed their readiness to collaborate with the state government toward finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in the area.

He said, “If the government would fence the market, demolish our houses and ask us to go and live in the neighbouring villages, it means it has automatically chased us away from Abia.

“We northerners are peace-loving and very accommodating. This is the reason there are many Southerners in the North doing their business without harassment and threats of eviction.

“It is unjust, unfair and ungodly for anyone to prevent any Nigerian from staying in any part they so desire in Nigeria.

“There is a general misconception that the northern community is harbouring criminals, but all the brothels, rooms, beer parlours, night clubs and lodging accommodation recently demolished belong to the natives.

“Tactical mistake for us to relocate to communities in Umuchieze, considering the prevailing high rate of crime in the area”.