Violence erupted at the popular Ama Hausa quarters located along Douglas road, Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, when the ‘Imo My Pride’ demolition party stormed the area. According to members of the Imo Civil Guard, who accompanied the demolition team, the Hausa traders had resisted the demolition exercise that was to be carried out in their area with some of them brandishing machetes, bows and arrows.
The report said this led to altercation between members of the community and the demolition squad that resulted in the forceful demolition of parts of the area. In the crisis that ensued, goods and property belonging to members of the community were looted.
A roadside trader, who simply introduced himself as Ebuka, said before now, the Hausa traders and street hawkers were untouchable. He said: “We are surprised that Okorocha, who hitherto protected them, now has the will to demolish their shanties.
Normally, the street trading taskforce will come to Douglas Road and confiscate our wares while in the nearby Mbaise road by Douglas road junction, Hausa traders who literally block the entire road are not disturbed.”
He explained that the demolition started from the downside of Douglas road up to ‘Ama Hausa,’ where most of the Igbo traders, whose goods were demolished, protested and joined the demolition party, threatening to attack the demolition taskforce if they failed to demolish the shanties littered at the ‘Ama Hausa.’
“Some of these angry traders were part of the crowd that helped enforce the demolition at Ama Hausa, forcefully quelling the resistance of the Hausa traders. It was at this point that miscreants and touts joined in the chaos and while people were trying to secure their property before the demolition, they were looting and stealing,” the hawker said.
Two people were rushed to hospital while about 24 others sustained varying degrees of injuries following clashes between the traders and a mob that wanted to enforce the demolition.
Narrating his experience, the Chairman of Suya section, Iliyasu Sule, whose shop was destroyed with goods and property carted away, expressed surprise at what happened minutes after they were addressed by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri on the need for them to remove their property on the road.
Commenting, the Publicity Secretary, Arewa Consultative Forum, Imo State chapter, Hassan Yahaya, who expressed support for government’s developmental policies, condemned the use of hoodlums, who were allowed to rubbish the exercise by looting property belonging to the traders during the exercise.
Violence erupted at the popular Ama Hausa quarters located along Douglas road, Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, when the ‘Imo My Pride’ demolition party stormed the area. According to members of the Imo Civil Guard, who accompanied the demolition team, the Hausa traders had resisted the demolition exercise that was to be carried out in their area with some of them brandishing machetes, bows and arrows.
The report said this led to altercation between members of the community and the demolition squad that resulted in the forceful demolition of parts of the area. In the crisis that ensued, goods and property belonging to members of the community were looted.
A roadside trader, who simply introduced himself as Ebuka, said before now, the Hausa traders and street hawkers were untouchable. He said: “We are surprised that Okorocha, who hitherto protected them, now has the will to demolish their shanties.
Normally, the street trading taskforce will come to Douglas Road and confiscate our wares while in the nearby Mbaise road by Douglas road junction, Hausa traders who literally block the entire road are not disturbed.”
He explained that the demolition started from the downside of Douglas road up to ‘Ama Hausa,’ where most of the Igbo traders, whose goods were demolished, protested and joined the demolition party, threatening to attack the demolition taskforce if they failed to demolish the shanties littered at the ‘Ama Hausa.’
“Some of these angry traders were part of the crowd that helped enforce the demolition at Ama Hausa, forcefully quelling the resistance of the Hausa traders. It was at this point that miscreants and touts joined in the chaos and while people were trying to secure their property before the demolition, they were looting and stealing,” the hawker said.
Two people were rushed to hospital while about 24 others sustained varying degrees of injuries following clashes between the traders and a mob that wanted to enforce the demolition.
Narrating his experience, the Chairman of Suya section, Iliyasu Sule, whose shop was destroyed with goods and property carted away, expressed surprise at what happened minutes after they were addressed by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri on the need for them to remove their property on the road.
Commenting, the Publicity Secretary, Arewa Consultative Forum, Imo State chapter, Hassan Yahaya, who expressed support for government’s developmental policies, condemned the use of hoodlums, who were allowed to rubbish the exercise by looting property belonging to the traders during the exercise.
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