Abia Govt discovers 70 dead bodies in forest raid

Twenty decaying bodies and skeletons were found by security personnel during a search of the forests near the Lokpanta Cattle Market along the Umunneochi section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, according to Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

According to him, 50 more dead were discovered in and around the market, and the market was apparently linked to the ransom paid to the kidnappers.

In the state capital of Umuahia, on Sunday, Otti revealed this during the second round of his monthly media chat.

He vowed that no inch of the state land mass would be left for criminals in line with his administration’s commitment to protect the lives of every citizen and visitor to the state.

He insisted that the resolve of the state to make the cattle market a daily market was not targeted at any particular tribe in the country, but rather it was aimed at revamping the security architecture of the market and its host community.

He said, “We have taken a stand to provide adequate security to Abia citizens and visitors because  no government can succeed in the face of insecurity. This government will not get involved in supporting criminals or allow them to occupy any part of the state.

 “When we decided to occupy the Lokpanta cattle market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state, we discovered 50 dead bodies, 20 headless dead bodies, men, women and children and uncountable skeletons. We also discovered that ransoms paid to kidnappers were usually dropped close to the market.

“But it was unfortunate that some people misinterpreted our action to mean that we asked the Northerners trading in the market to leave the state, but after our interactions with leaders of the Northern community, we told them that anyone who is not in support of the moves we are making to secure the state must be a criminal, they saw reasons with us and quickly reversed the quit notice they issued to Igbos in the North.

“That’s why we have decided to make the market a daily market, people can go to the market and do their business and go home at the end of the day. The market will not be only a cattle market again, but it will have other sections for other goods like every other market.

“Those who live inside the market will now live among other people in the state outside the market”

The governor reaffirmed that his administration’s goal of using public funds to build high-quality infrastructure for the community’s citizens, and he added that the government would not divert its resources to cater to attention-seekers and purported political players.

He encouraged anyone who had grievances about not receiving their salary to file a petition with the state’s office of the Account General, promising that the petitions would be handled as quickly as possible.