The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has advised the Abia State Government to make the Lokpanta Cattle market, Ummunnechi Local Council and its environment safe and productive.
Spokesman of the separatist, Comrade Emma Powerful in a statement titled: “We Urge Abia State Governor To Revoke Permit Or Relocate Lokpanta Cattle Market,” called for the revocation of whatever permit if any, granted for the establishment of the market.
He disclosed that IPOB has designated the land as the site for a modern and biggest trade fair center in Africa, to ensure that their people (Biafrans) returning from Lagos and other parts of Nigeria will continue with their respective businesses unhindered and thus create a source of revenue for the state government.
Powerfully said instead of the market yielding any benefit to the state, “it has become a den for kidnappers and a centre for kidnapping and banditry against Ndigbo.
“Currently, the land is not beneficial to Ndigbo, instead, it is used to terrorise our people by Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen with tacit support from security agents. Currently, Lokpanta has been turned into a hideout for Fulani criminals, kidnappers, terrorists and killers.”
The cattle market, situated along Enugu–Okigwe–Umuahia–Aba–Port Harcourt expressway, is notorious for criminal acts like robbery, abduction and kidnapping, cattle menace, destruction of farmlands, and attacks among others.
The scenario became worrisome that the state government set up a security Committee drawn from the local council, market leaders, landowners, and security agencies to address the menace.
IPOB consequently tasked the state government under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and the incoming governor, Dr. Otti, to do the needful by revoking any permit issued to any individual or group of persons so that the land will be used for public good and for work to commence in earnest.
Powerful said: “We want to make the land and the environment safe and peaceful again for our people to return and build productive infrastructures. We are urging Abia leaders and the governors to do the needful, or IPOB will after a definite period, evict all occupants on that land. We can’t harbor marauders and terrorists in our choicest ancestral lands, while our people and their businesses are being attacked and sacked by their host sates all over the zoo.
“We need more space to accommodate our returning businesses, and Lokpanta cattle market has been earmarked as one of the locations upon which world class structures will be constructed to accommodate our returning brothers and sisters from other parts of the zoo to continue with their businesses and work.
“With this objective in mind, we call on Dr. Ikpeazu and Dr. Otti to act expeditiously and revoke whatever permit and remove every encumbrances that may militate against a speedy take-off of the Trade Fair Centre Project.
“If the Abia State Government fails to be proactive and do the needful, IPOB shall do the eviction of all occupants of the designated site our own way.”
