For northern cattle traders, Otti pledges safety.
Dr. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, visited the well-known Lokpanta Cattle Market in the state’s Umunneochi Local Government Area on Sunday without prior notice.
The governor said he came by to check on the status of the construction of the perimeter fence encircling the livestock market.
He pledged to defend cattle sellers conducting lawful business, but he also declared his administration’s determination to make the market non-residential in order to deter criminality.
Following a security report that revealed 50 decaying corpses and 20 skeletons had been found in a thicket close to the market, the governor had declared in October of last year that the market needed to be fenced off and turned into a non-residential area.
He said that the security report showed kidnappers had made the market a safe sanctuary where they could carry out their crimes.
After being greeted by the cattle dealers’ leadership on Sunday, Otti emphasized that the law-abiding cattle traders had nothing to worry and that his actions were directed at the criminals.
“I want to talk about the issue of residence here next,” he remarked. You are undoubtedly aware that the occupants will vacate this location, turning it into a market. In other words, the government is planning where you will reside.
“Everyone engaged in lawful commercial operations will get protection from the government. The last thing we desire is criminals.
Every criminal needs to be caught since you never know when they could attack. Criminals don’t inquire about your language, religion, or place of origin.
“We have to eradicate crime from this area. As law-abiding individuals with obligations, we will assist you in conducting business. That’s the reason I came here to have a look at the surroundings and the quality of the work that has been done; I’m impressed by how well everything is going.
In order to ensure that the government’s policy of safeguarding the market and turning it into a non-residential area was carried out, he thanked the traders and their leaders for their assistance.
For northern cattle traders, Otti pledges safety.
“We are delighted that you have backed this government. We are all brothers and sisters, as I mentioned before, thus prejudice should not exist.
A few of you were local natives. This is where your parents were born. This man, who I believe to be a senator, approached me and began speaking Igbo.
Thus, let me to thank you one more for coming out to greet me and give you the assurance that you will be protected by this administration, which is your government. You have to use every effort to guarantee that this location is peaceful,” Otti remarked.
However, he expressed worry over the market’s unhygienic state and asked the vendors to maintain a clean environment.
“I stopped around the abattoir and found the place to be very dirty and smelly,” he said. Since it is what people consume, we must make sure it is clean. People will become ill if they become contaminated, and you don’t want to sell your cattle if someone eats them and becomes unwell.
Thus, it is your duty to maintain cleanliness in the slaughterhouse and anywhere else you go.
Alhaji Danladi, the cattle market chairman, praised the governor for coming and expressed his satisfaction that the government cared about the health and well-being of the cattle dealers.
