Alleged Abakpa Market Crises; Ebonyi Commissioner Gives Clarification

By Celestine Okeh

The Commissioner for internal security and border peace, Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha have given clarification to the conflicting reports on the crises that occurred in early hours of Wednesday in Abakpa market, Abakaliki, alleging that hoodlums invaded the market and caused crisesthat led to the death one person in the market.

Hon. Emegha while responding to questions from newsmen who converged in his office to get his account of the situation, stated that he was at the market to seal up about five shops, identified to be hideout of some criminal elements who perpetually burgles shops in the market and those who have refused to remit the tax due to government to government coffers.

The Commissioner said that after the sealing up exercise, he retired to attend a meeting with the Governor. While he was still in the meeting, he got a report of crises in the market and immediately contacted the CP who swiftly deployed his men to quel the uprising.
"I was at the market this morning to seal up some shops allegedly used by some criminal elements as their hideout to burgle other shops in the market and also to seal others, defaulting in remittance of their taxes to government coffers. The exercise was peacefully carried out without any form of violence, he said". He explained further "I got a call while I was already in a meeting with the Governor after the exercise, of some Crises in the market, I contacted the CP who deployed his men to the market to quel the situation, " he added.
On the alleged death one person, the Commissioner replied,
"I am not aware of that, am yet to be briefed by the CP on the details of the crises but I'm sure everything is under control".
The Commissioner however, refuted the report that the crises was caused by an alleged imposition leaders in the market and forceful relocation of traders to the newly reconstructed Magaret Umahi International Market. "Government asked the former Chairman Mr Christopher Eze to step down due to non - remittance of taxes collected from traders amounting to over fifty million to government coffers, so government asked him to step down and constituted a caretaker Committee headed by Mr Peter Oba to oversee the activities in the market for the next few months, pending when the election would be conducted." He stated further that the erstwhile chairman is currently in police custody concerning his financial misconducts.

On issue of alleged forceful relocation, the Commissioner said,  "we have good understanding with the traders and by the second week of September, when all works are completed in the market, those that are due for relocation will do so, question of forceful relocation does not occur, Abakpa market has been designated vegetables and food stuffs market and the dealers in those commodities need no relocation," he concluded.
Hon. Emegha however assured that everything will be done to ensure that peace is achieved in all parts of the state. He urge everyone to about their normal and lawful business.