By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Some traders at the Ebonyi Building Materials Market in Abakaliki, have lamented their eviction and demolition of the market.
The demolition commenced on Monday following an eviction notice by the state government which had given them until February 28 to leave the market.
By the time they got to the market, it was surrounded by military and police officers as well as agents of the state government supervising the demolition.
Bulldozers brought in by the state government had already started demolition of some of the shops in the market, NatureNews gathered.
They lamented that government should have given them more time since the new site has not been completed.
They further argued that the forceful eviction will expose them to more hardships because government did not put any form of security in the new site.
According to the Nation, one of the affected traders, Mr. Obasi Chukwudi confirmed that government gave them quit notice.
He however noted that they never knew the government will move in immediately to evict them as the new site has not been completed.
“Government gave us order to pack out of this place to the new site but we didn’t know it was urgent because we thought they will give us time to prepare ourselves.
“They gave us till March 1st and we thought they will give us extension of one week. Secondly, the new site has no wall, no security, no motorable road, and even the buildings have not been completed.
“It will not only affect us but our families are affected. Government should give us one week,” he pleaded.
Another trader, Mr. Okwudiri Uche said the government took them unawares because they never knew government will start demolition immediately.
“We came to market this morning only to see that security agencies have blocked the entrance of the market and stopped our movement and business transactions.”
“We never knew government will start today being 1st March. My shop has been demolished. Government should give us more time to finish the new site.”
It was gathered that some of the state government officials at the gate were extorting between N10, 000 to N20, 000 from the traders for staying beyond government stipulated time.
But Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Ugbala , who spoke to the Nation, denied knowledge of the said extortion, saying, “I am not aware of the extortion but I will call them on phone now.”