Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti
Dr Alex Otti, the executive governor of Abia State, has revealed that 20 decomposing dead bodies and skeletons were discovered by security operatives during a raid of forest around Lokpanta cattle market in Umunneochi axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
Also, Otti said another 50 dead bodies was found around the market, while the payment of ransom to suspected kidnappers was equally traced to the local market.
He disclosed this on Sunday during the second edition of his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital. Continue Reading…
Otti vowed that no inch of the state land mass will be left for criminal elements in line with his administration’s commitment to protect the lives of every citizen and visitors to the state.
Furthermore, he noted that the decision of the state government to make the cattle market a daily market was not targeted at any particular tribe in the country, but rather it was aimed at revamping the security architecture of the market and its host community.
He said, “We have taken a stand to provide adequate security to Abia citizens and visitors because we know that no goverment can succeed in the face of insecurity. This goverment will not get involved in supporting criminals or allow them to occupy any part of the state.
“When we decided to occupy the Lokpanta cattle market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state, we discovered 50 dead bodies, 20 headless dead bodies, men, women and children and uncountable skeletons. We also discovered that ransoms paid to kidnappers were usually dropped close to the market.
“But it was unfortunate that some people misinterpreted our action to mean that we asked the Northerners trading in the market to leave the state, but after our interactions with leaders of Northern community, we told them that anyone who is not in support of the moves we are making to secure the state must be a criminal, they saw reasons with us and quickly reversed the quit notice they issued to Igbos in the North.
“That’s why we have decided to make the market a daily market, people can go to the market and do their business and go home at the end of the day. The market will not be only a cattle market again, but it will have other sections for other goods like every other market.
“Those who live inside the market will now live among other people in the state outside the market” Continue Reading…
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