Abakaliki – Ebonyi State Police Command has denied viral media reports alleging a loss of lives during the clash between traders in Abakpa Market and some tax agents of the Ebonyi State government in Abakaliki on Wednesday.


The command’s spokesman, Loveth Odaah, only one trader sustained an injury on the head and was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki for treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that trouble started when the Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on IGR, Martins Ukwuegbu and the Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Stanley Emegha led some youths to collect the IGR from some traders in the market.



The youths it was gathered, were members of the Ekubaraoha Youth Assembly (EYA).

Market sources alleged that the ‘revenue collectors’ were using the IGR collection as cover to close down the shops of some traders who took the state government to court over the leadership dispute in the market.

According to him, the traders had gone to court to challenge the removal of the market leadership before the expiration of their tenure and imposition of a new intérim leadership on them by the state government.


“They came to the market and were taken to the shops of the traders that took them to court and they started closing their shops accusing them of not paying IGR”.

” One of the sons of one of the traders entered into an altercation with them and in the process, a fight broke out”.

” As they were beating him he fell on the ground forcefully and he hit his head on the ground and lost consciousness”.

It was gathered that the traders immediately mobilized and attacked the IGR team and beat some of them up while others escaped.

Not done, the traders began rioting. They went to the shop of one of the leaders believed to be working with the government and attempted to vandalise it when Police arrived and chased them away.

The Police tear-gassed many of them to disperse them and arrested many others.

Mr. Mark Onu, Leader of Ekubaraoha Youth Assembly and Umahi’s Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation denied involvement in the incident.

“I am not aware of that, I wasn’t there. You can go and ask the SA on Markets what happened”, he said

He also said that no government official has the right to deploy his members for any purpose without informing him.

The Commissioner for Internal Security, Stanley Emegha denied that anyone was killed.


He noted that he was in the company of the Special Assistant on IGR, Martin’s Okwuegbu went to the market to seal some shops.

According to him, five shops were sealed for various reasons ranging from refusal to pay IGR to the shops being used for criminal activities in the market.

Okwuegbu on his part said about seven shops were sealed for not paying their taxes.

He denied knowledge of any fracas or death adding that the exercise was peaceful.

“We sealed the shops and left peacefully. I am just hearing from you that someone died. Nothing like that happened while we were there”, he said.

He denied that the exercise was used to victimize some traders as opposed to the government action on the market leadership.

“We served them notice to pay three times before going to seal their shops. If anyone says he or she has paid let them come and present their records and we will immediately open the shops”, he said



https://www.independent.ng/no-death-in-abakaliki-market-clash-police/?utm_source=&utm_medium=facebook

Thank God... I pray this news is true

Umahi is a hard worker but Ebonyi and Ebonyians are under siege under him.
Hundreds of SAs, technical assistants,senior technical assistants etc who are all hardened cultists and are ready to lynch anyone who has a contrary opinion.
Exorbitant property rates up to 500k for 4 storey buildings.
Taxes even these market women whose whole merchandise fills only a tray.
Let him take it easy cos d dice is continuously rolling.

Hian, I tire more like children's play.
Is like umahi tasks every Dick, Tom and Harry in Ebonyi state.
I will advise to look for more subtle approach to issues.
Ekabaraoha youth Association......lolzzzz
Ndi Ara.

The news of death is already on the FP.