Business activities have resumed at the Ogbor Hill waterside abattoir and the Mosque Street after the crisis which resulted from the killing of two butchers at the abattoir along Aba-Ikot Ekpene road, Aba, Abia state
It will be recalled that protest had greeted all parts of Aba on Thursday over the killing of two butchers at the Ogbor Hill waterside abattoir by soldiers.
When our correspondent visited some areas of the city affected in the crisis, it was discovered that security has been boosted at the abattoir and Mosque Street as a combined team of soldiers and Mobile Policemen kept watch. Meat sellers at the abattoir had resumed business since Friday.
Loading ...Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and the State Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila had while visiting troubled spots on Friday called for calm in the city and warned those trying to cash into the opportunity to cause mayhem to be ready to face the consequences of their actions.
Sources at the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, told 247ureports.com that the killer soldier whose identity is yet to be disclosed by the military authorities, told journalists that he was arrested on Thursday after the ugly incident which took the life of about three members of Abia State Butcher’s Association, Aba.
Commanding Officer of the 14 Brigade, Brigadier General Lawrence Fejokwu, in a telephone chat, told our correspondent that investigations had commenced on the matter.
Ikpeazu and Habila who spoke respectively when they visited the abattoir and the Muslim community in Aba condemned the actions of the killer soldier and described the incident as one that could have been avoided especially at this time that the country and the state are enjoying relative peace.
Gov. Ikpeazu disclosed that he has instructed security agencies in the state to conduct a stop and search operation on all vehicles conveying livestock to any part of the state and to also search markets and settlements where livestock dealers operates in order to ensure watertight security in the state and its borders with neighbouring states.
The governor further directed the Abia State Vigilance Service, (AVS) to commence a two-week intensive training of its personnel under the supervision of the Police, adding that the state was going to engage over 7,000 youths into the AVS as part of measures to boost internal security in communities in the state.
He further disclosed that he has equally directed traditional rulers in the state to submit the names of ten youths in their communities that will be enrolled into the vigilante, stressing that by the end of the exercise, over seven thousand youths would have been engaged and the AVS population boosted.
Speaking at Mosque Street while addressing Hausa Community in Aba, CP Habila assured them of their safety and urged those that are still nursing fears and are into hiding to come out and go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation as peace has returned to town.
The commissioner who did not confirm the number of arrests made on the crisis, vowed to prosecute anybody or group found culpable in the incident, no matter how highly placed.
Chairman, Abia State Enyimba Amalgamated butchers Association, Hon. Emeka Totti and Seriki Ibrahim Bello who expressed commended the State government and security agencies for their quick response, pledged to ensure continued peaceful coexistence between the Hausa and their Igbo counterparts.
