The Northern Community in Umuchieze has called for a dialogue with the Abia State government to end the security issues surrounding Umuchieze Cattle Market, Umunneochi local government area.
Leaders of the community in a signed statement read to newsmen by Alhaji Buba Abdullahi Kedemure at a press conference on the market crisis, said adequate security was required both in and around the market to protect life and property.
They denied the assertion that the market harbours criminals.
The northern leaders reacted to claims and counter claims between the community and the state government that the market had been infiltrated by criminals, who have been terrorising the area.
In the statement signed by 15 leaders, including the chairman, Alhaji Saleh Algare, they said, “It is obvious that we are also victims of these crimes and criminalities and not accomplices.”
It noted that the moves by the government to evict them from the market as part of measures against insecurity in the area would expose them to untold hardship and security threat.
They claimed that since the land, measuring 80 hectares and habouring over 15,000 people was allocated to them by the government in 2005, they have been living peacefully with the host-community.
“The Northern Community are law abiding citizens of Nigeria engaged in legitimate business of cattle trade and other businesses,” they added, saying they too have been exposed to loss of lives and property during the crisis.
Reacting to a claim by the governor, Dr Alex Otti that dead bodies and skeletons were recently discovered in bushes around the market, the leaders said they were not aware of the discovery.
According to the statement “Investigations available to us from the security agencies in the area indicated that the discoveries were neither around nor in the market.”
“Considering the high rate of crimes in the area, today, it will be a tactical mistake for us to relocate to the various communities. We passionately appeal to His Excellency to allow us to live in the cattle market,” he added.
In his reaction, the Igbo leader in the market, Mr Uchechukwu Ukairo, said the traders are also at the mercy of criminals and urged the government to improve security in and around it.
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