Displaced traders in Onitsha cry out to Govt

Scores of traders affected in Onitsha by the demolition exercise carried out by government agencies has cried out to Anambra State Government to rehabilitate them.

The traders, who spoke to newsmen in Onitsha said that their sources of livelihood had been adversely affected by the demolition.

They lamented that their shops were demolished in spite of a court order by Justice P. A. C Umeadi of Awka High Court.

The traders alleged that while the demolition was going on, some miscreants were busy looting their valuables, stressing that goods looted during the exercise include building materials, motor parts and assorted drinks worth millions of naira.

The spokesman of the traders, Mr. Samuel Okafor told journalists that they were taken unawares because the demolished Ekeson Park had been an object of litigation.

“We were surprised when we came to work this morning and met over 30 security men including policemen and soldiers fully armed and over 50 able-bodied Task Force  members here with their bulldozer and pay loaders demolishing all the structures including the corporate office.

“They chased us away and even towed our buses to an unknown destination and cordoned off the entire place while hoodlums had a field day.

“Two of the hoodlums lost their lives here. One collapsed and one was hit by a lump of block while trying to carry away a carton of motor parts as they demolished our stores,” he said.

It was reliably gathered that more than 80 lock-up shops and the corporate office headquarters were demolished during the exercise.