Palpable tension and fear gripped traders at Eke Ukwu Owerre Market yesterday as unconfirmed reports filtered in that there were plans by the Imo state Government to relocate the Ekeukwu Owerri Market from its present location inOwerriMunicipality to Egbu orAba road.
The fear, our reporter learnt, forced the traders to lock their shops in the morning due to the alleged plan before it was opened for business.
An authoritative source (names withheld) who is an official of the Market Union confirmed the rumour stating that the traders who were not properly informed about the development reportedly closed their shops anticipating a raid or force eviction with caterpillars or bulldozers.
No market official was willing to speak with our reporter when approached for comments at Ekeonunwa as they claimed not to be aware of the development but only acted on rumour like other traders in the market. A market unionist who managed to speak to us o the issue disclosed that at one meeting with the traders unionist in Owerri, government disclosed plans to “decongest” the markets Owerri Municipal and that involves moving the Ekeukwu to somewhere in Aba road. The unionist however opined that government would not embark on the relocation without appropriate preparations and notifications to the traders.
