Three people
were killed on Saturday in a protest by Owerri natives following the demolition
of the Eke Onunwa market by the state government. But the Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, could not confirm the casualty as he is
out of the state.
The
situation escalated when one of the protesters, a young man, was hit and killed
by a stray bullet fired by security operatives deployed to maintain order in
the melee which ensued after the demolition. Following the death of the
protester, Owerri natives proceeded to set fire to the property belonging to
some residents. This led to a fight between the residents and those protesters
resulting in the death of two others. Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state had
issued an evacuation order to the traders advising them to relocate to a new
site to make way for development at the market site. The efforts were resisted
by the natives of the area who fought the relocation of the market by the state
government. However, the market was demolished in the middle of the night by
bulldozers already stationed at the scene despite the efforts of the natives.
Military and police personnel have been deployed in Owerri to forestall further
breakdown of law and order.
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