Traders at the Umuchieze cattle market in Umunneochi LGA have appealed to the Abia State government to allow them stay in the market and transact their genuine businesses.
The Chairman of the cattle market, Alhaji Saleh Algare made the appeal while interacting with journalists at the market.
Alhaji Algare, who lauded the Abia state government for its recent onslaught against criminals in the area leading to the demolition of shanties and brothels in the market, said that they are genuine traders doing their legitimate businesses and would not harbour criminals in the market.
While thanking Governor Otti for the show of love and hospitality to the northern community in the state, he maintained that contrary to the reports making the rounds, nobody asked them to leave the state, as they have been cohabiting with their host community who have also been friendly with them.
Also speaking to newsmen, the leader of the Hausa community in the state, the traditional ruler of the Hausa community in the state, and Sarkin Hausawa, HRH Yaro Danladi said they will not habor criminals in the market, adding that they are ready for more discussions with the state government on the way forward.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Retired Navy Commander Macdonald Ubah, said that the essence of the visit was to clarify issues to the traders in the market on the decision of government to transform the market into a daily one where security of lives and properties of the traders would be guaranteed as had been stated in previous meetings with the leadership of the market.
Navy commander Ubah stated that the information circulating on social media, claiming that the government ordered traders in the market to leave Abia, was untrue as the government’s decision to make the market a daily one was in the overall interest of the traders.
He urged the citizenry to disregard the rumour about the sacking of Northern traders from the state, adding that it was the handiwork of mischief makers, stating that since the action of the state government in the market, no cases of kidnapping has been heard of in that axis.
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