Traffic flow on the ever busy Owerri-Orlu road was disrupted for several hours yesterday when the people of Umuaka took to the streets.
Motorists underwent hell at the Umuaka junction as the protesters comprising women blocked the road making it difficult for road users to have easy access on the Orlu Owerri road.
Chanting solidarity songs and parading mock coffins, the women and youths took over the disputed Akah City ultra Modern complex at Afor umuaka.
Trumpeta learnt that the people of the area are protesting the exorbitant rates of the new shop which were given away for N700,000 to N800,000. According to some of the protesters, the problem is that the traditional ruler of the community Eze O.C Ojinaka and the people are not comfortable with the price of the new shops. “It is exorbitant. Government did not inject any fund to build the new shops at Afor Umuaka. It was from the money contributed by those ejected from the original market premises. First we paid N2.000 to buy form, paid another N10,000 for allocation to the Aka City management and 30% counter part funding and now another N700,000 to N800,000”
Another factor that aroused tension in the area is the continuous demolition of existing shops without any attempt to complete the already demolished area and the desire of the woman in charge of Aka City to change the motor park.
Our reporter was told that Eze Ojinnaka and the people allegedly protested this action forcing the woman to invite the police who whisked away the monarch. These actions lead to spontaneous reaction that resulted to demonstration and protests in the Orlu- Owerri road.
