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By Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) and Adamu Abuh (Abuja) |
04 November 2023 |
3:45 am
A human rights group, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has expressed sadness over the recent discoveries of 20 decapitated and 50 other decomposing human bodies around the Lokpanta cattle market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
However, the Coalition of Igbo Unions Nigeria has faulted the move to eject the traders from the market.
FENRAD in a statement yesterday signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, called on the cattle dealers to vacate the market without further delay in line with the plan by the state Governor, Alex Otti, to make the place a daily, non-residential market that would be fenced and locked up after business, among other innovations, to rid the area of criminal elements.
The group lamented that the market, which was established for the purpose of promoting cattle and foodstuffs enterprise, had been turned into a den of hostage takers.
It condemned the gruesome activities of the faceless gangs, which he said, had been extended to Ihube, Uturu, Okigwe and Isuikwuato axis.
“The bigger question now is: if this number of headless and lifeless humans, likely Abia indigenes and others, was found only recently, how many more may have been killed in the intervening years following the lockdown when this menace began to rear its ugly head or the years before?” the group asked.
Led by Mr. Obinna John Okoroafor, the Coalition of Igbo Unions Nigeria, in a statement, yesterday, warned that ejecting the traders would surely have a negative effect on Igbo traders in the North and across Nigeria.
The group maintained that the plight of northern traders in the cattle market, if not handled satisfactorily, would set a dangerous precedent, which would ignite violence and clashes in various parts of Nigeria against Igbos.
They, therefore, distanced themselves from what they termed the “reckless utterances and thoughtless actions” of the governor whom they accused of playing to the gallery for political gains.
They also condemned the indiscriminate demolition of shops and residential homes and demanded that alternatives be provided for northerners without further delay.
The group gave the governor a 48-hour ultimatum to rescind the decision in the interest of sustained peaceful and harmonious relationship among Nigerians.
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