Anambra Governor, Charles Soludo, on Wednesday, condemned the burning of houses and vehicles in Iyowa-Odekpe community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State by suspected hoodlums.
The governor ordered that anyone involved in the act be apprehended and brought to book.
Soludo condemned the attack through his Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi while addressing the people of Iyowa community under the umbrella of Iyowa community Landlords Residents Association in Ogbaru LGA, who were at the government house Awka in protest to seek government intervention on their plys.
He assured the protesters that justice must surely take its course.
According to him, the government will take the matter seriously to ensure that it is resolved amicably.
“Myself and the state at large strongly condemned the act.
“The present administration will not relent its effort in making sure that the vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria is achieved.
“We encouraged you all, particularly, members of Iyowa community Landlords Residents Association to remain calm and give us time to look into the matter for a peaceful resolution, Ezeajughi appealed.
The leader of the protesters, Dr. Tony Chukwunoso Princewil, who spoke to Journalists shortly after the exercise, informed the government that those behind the attack are still woving around the streets of their houses for further destruction.
He said a total of 10 storey buildings and 30 vehicles were burnt down by the hoodlums alleged to have been led by the President General of Odekpe community, Barrister Innocent Nwanosike, on 7th November 2023 at about 7am.
He added that the hoodlums also inflicted bodily injuries to residents during the attack.
He said they are in front the State government house to draw governor attention for immediate action.
According to him, Iyowa is a lay-out owned by Odekpe Community and residents in the lay-out are all strangers; Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas and other ethicities.
“The problem stated when when we refused to continue to pay multiple levies to them.
“In the layout we have over 10,000 stores and every quarter of the month we are forced to pay N10,000 mandatory levies to them. We pay N10,000 every store.
“In fact, we now pay them for anything we do in our houses we build with our own hard earned money.
“We reported the matter to the police authority and the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Matters, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne for prompt action but up till this moment, no positive response has been made.
“So we are calling on the state government to help us look into the matter and find an actionable way of resolving the issue,” the spokesperson stated.
The protesters expressed their displeasure with various inscriptions such as; Barrow pushers pays tolls in Iyowa, solution please help us, the home of tautism, solution do something, amongst others.
