Concerns are building in Anambra State over the destruction and burning of shanties, wares and properties of traders along the Regina Ceali Junction and Y-Junction of Okpuno in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
The demolition, which started on Tuesday, was carried out by the management of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority and led by its Chairman, Ossy Onuko, in collaboration with the Development Control Unit of ACTDA and Rapid Response Unit of the agency.
The demolition also affected traders at UNIZIK Tempsite, Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno, Abakiliki Street, and Club Road areas of Awka.
It was learnt that the demolition began at the expiration of several warnings and quit notices served to the traders.
Our correspondent who visited the area on Thursday gathered that the shanties were not only demolished, the traders properties, including wares, food items, among others, were also set ablaze by the officials who carried out the exercise in the presence of security personnel.
The Head of the ACTDA Development Control Unit, Charles Ekwunife, who spoke to journalists, stated that the onslaught became necessary as shanties and other illegal structures and business activities had greatly contributed to the negative state of the environment.
Ekwunife, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director of Awka Capital Development Authority, Onuko, said the outright demolition underscored the seriousness of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, about law and order restoration.
He insisted that the agency would not condone any form of illegality across its jurisdiction.
He advised traders to desist from setting up illegal structures and trading along the streets, as according to him, the government would leave no stone unturned to rid Awka of illegal structures and shanties.
He said, “Those shanties put up on the roads deface Awka. Take your goods to the market and sell them. These are roads and streets not meant for trading and Awka Capital Territory is one of them.
“One of the cardinal objectives of the Soludo administration is to build a peaceful, livable and prosperous homeland to aid rapid growth and development of the state, hence the defacement of the capital city by the hawkers and road traders will not be condoned.
“This is part of the management’s efforts to restore orderliness in the Awka Capital City and return it to its Capital Territory Status. The ACTDA is all out to wipe out impunity in the system and instill discipline and rule of law. Petty traders are advised to comply with the demand and expectations of the authority to avoid regrets.”
Meanwhile, a cross-section of traders who spoke with our correspondent in Awka, on Thursday, said they were worried that their wares, items and property were set ablaze and the exercise had rather worsened their situation.
Among the affected traders who spoke, a food vendor, identified as Madam Chinwe, said, “They invaded my shop unannounced and started packing my food items, both cooked and uncooked, including other properties outside after which they set ablaze.
“I set up this business last month with the loan from a cooperative society. Now, all I have laboured for with the help of the loan is gone. This is a barbaric and wicked act that shows no regard for the plight of the poor masses who are striving to make ends meet in this time of economic hardship.”
Another victim, a caterer, identified as Rose Uche, said, “They claimed they have served us notice, but they have only been coming to extort us and now when we decided to ignore them, that is when they have done this to us.
“They said we are defacing the environment but those defacing the environment, they don’t move against them but choose to burn and destroy the goods of poor women. We all know the game. It’s mostly about extortion and that’s bad.”
Also, lending her voice to the plight of the traders, the member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Prof. Oby Orogbu, condemned the demolition.
In a statement she signed by herself, Orogbu described the act as “barbaric”, adding that she was utterly dismayed and disappointed by the “brutality against petty traders”.
“As a federal representative, I must defend the interests and welfare of my constituents, who are among the victims of this injustice. I condemn this act in the strongest terms and demand that the state government and the ACTDA immediately stop this harassment and intimidation of the traders. I also call for the compensation and rehabilitation of the affected traders, and the prosecution of those responsible for this atrocity.”
