Governor Rochas Okorocha denies security forces shot protesters at Owerri's Ekeukwu market

GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha has dismissed claims that security agents killed one person during the demolition of a market in Owerri the Imo State capital yesterday pointing out that the allegation was a wicked rumour being peddled by his political opponents.

Yesterday, local people and the security authorities clashed in Owerri as the state government sought to demolish the Ekeukwu market and relocate the traders. It was reported that at least three people were killed, including a 10 year old boy as soldiers and police fired on a crowd of protesters trying to stop bulldozers.

Critics have accused Governor Okorocha of trying to forcefully relocate the traders from the market situated in a prime location, so the government can appropriate the land. They allege that when local people protested this because they were not duly compensated, the governor invited the security forces to open fire on them.

Responding to this criticism through his spokesman Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Okorocha described the claim that a boy was killed by stray bullet as wicked rumour. He added that the security personnel around the market were there to ensure peace and they played that role professionally.

Governor Okorocha said: “It has come to our knowledge that there is a deliberate and concerted effort by some elements who do not love progress to use the relocation of the Ekeukwu Owerri Market, to blackmail the government of the day and perhaps cause undue tension in the state. These people who have refused or failed to appreciate the good of relocating Ekeukwu Market Owerri to a more acceptable area have been dishing out rumours upon rumours including rumours of people being shot dead.

These are wicked rumours and the truth is that the market is the government’s property and it is the decision of the government to relocate it to a better place and such action could not have led to such incident. We are also aware that before now the hoodlums who have been using the market and environs as areas of their operations have been threatening fire and brimstone over the government’s decision to move the market.

“These hoodlums had also embarked on looting which led their being confronted by some of the traders and it took the timely intervention of the security personnel to restore order in that part of the market. Unfortunately, those who hate progress have gone out with certain disturbing claims and have also posted some photographs that have nothing to do with the Owerri issue on the social media just to see if they could discredit the government and the patriotic action taken in the overall interest of the state."

He added that Nigerians who have been following events in Imo State can attest that for almost two years, the government has been announcing its intention to relocate the Ekeukwu Market to a better place.