Ebonyi State Government says it is not threatening any trader in the state over plans to relocate the Abakpa main market in Abakaliki.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Donatus Njoku, made the clarification while reacting to the allegation of threats on some traders by some state government agents.
Njoku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Thursday that the state government was not after any trader.
The commissioner said that the state was modernising the market to meet international standard, adding that movement to the new site was not compulsory.
He, however, said that some elements among the traders were causing problems for the government.
According to him, only an insignificant number of less than one per cent persons may have run away to Enugu.
“Government is not witch-hunting anybody. No shop was locked except they have defaulted in the payment of taxes,” Njoku said.
Also, the Ebonyi Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Loveth Odaa denied any form of compromise by the police on the matter.
Odaa confirmed that some traders were arrested and charged to court over allegations of engaging in activities capable of causing a breach of peace.
She advised those alleging threat to their lives to officially report their complaints to the police for investigation.
Meanwhile, traders in Ebonyi under the auspices of Elders of Abakpa Main Market Traders, Abakaliki wants the intervention of the Federal Government over alleged threat to their lives by agents of the state government.
The traders also called the attention of Inspector General of Police, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other rights groups to alleged rights violations and intimidation by the state government.
The leader of the group, Chief Mathias Obiaju told newsmen in Enugu that Gov. Dave Umahi had three weeks ago declared six of their members wanted for opposing his move to relocate the Abakpa Main Market to an undeveloped site.
Obiaju said that four persons ran to Enugu, one to Anambra while the last person went to his village in Uburu.
“The governor also directed that our shops, residential homes and warehouses be locked. As we speak, over 30 of our warehouses are under lock and key,” he said.
He said that the governor was intolerable of opposing views, adding that most residents of the state were living in fear.
Obiaju said that they were being treated like criminals for requesting the state government to put the new site in order before the relocation.
He said that their opposition to the relocation of the market was because the new site was yet to be fully developed as it lacked the basic facilities like good roads, potable water and electricity.
“Our trouble with Umahi started on May 29, 2017, when he declared his intention to relocate the market. He later told us that the movement of traders to a new site would be by choice and not compulsory.
“However, on July 25, 2019, he mandated the chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area to issue us a compulsory quit notice that will lapse on Aug. 31,” he said.
The trader said that they were more confused as the state government had not provided an alternative and their lease of the current market still had 12 years to run.
“We had an agreement with the local government in 2003 to reconstruct the market after which we leased it for 30 years to recover our expenses before renewal.
“We told the state government that we have only spent 18 years and remaining 12 years but they were not concerned,” he said.
Obiaju said that the next thing they saw was over 150 thugs sent by the state government who came to the market with a machete to maim traders, loot and destroy goods worth millions of naira.
He said that the elders of the market after due consultations decided to seek redress in the court.
“Following the court case, the governor issued us an ultimatum to withdraw the case and swear an affidavit that we will not challenge the relocation of the market again or have our shops and residences locked,” he said.
The trader said that their refusal to heed to the order of the governor landed them into trouble as the state police command conspired with Umahi and embarked on random arrests of their members.
He said that 15 of their members were arrested and detained, adding that their petition to the commissioner of police on the threats by the governor was rebuffed.
“It was at this point that Umahi said he will deal with us and declared us wanted. We have been living like refugees in Enugu for the past three weeks,” Obiaju said.