Enugu community kicks against call to demolish new artisan cattle market

From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.

The Arewa community living in Enugu state has pleaded with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state to disregard the call by the state House of Assembly to demolish the New Artisan market where they live and trade on cattle over allegations that it is breeding ground for criminal activities, prostitution and other forms of immoral activities.

Members of the Enugu state house of assembly during their plenary session on Thursday, May 21,decided to call the attention of the state executive arm of government on the alleged deteriorating insecurity at New artisan market and the pertinent need to demolish the settlement.

In a motion sponsored by Hon Chinedu Okwu, representing Aninri Constituency, he alleged that the supposed New artisan cattle market has been converted to a hideout for criminals, drug dealers and a prostitution ground, stating that immediate action to safeguard lives and properties of close residents and the rest of Nigerians plying the route should be priority. Even as the market is close to government house.

He recalled that an indigent police officer was brutally murdered in the market for no just cause about two years ago.

Okwu stated,”We must not allow evil to take challenge of our environs.We must be ready to defend our citizens through legislative means of ensuring a crime free zone”.

His motion was seconded by the member representing Nkanu West Constituency, Hon Iloabuchi Aniagu, stating residents and passers-by live in fears at night hours. Likewise, Hon Johnson Chukwuobasi, representing Awgu South in the state house of assembly, stressed his support over the demolition.

The Speaker of Enugu state house of Assembly, Hon Edward Ubosi, who also made a contribution stated,

“The Security of lives and property of residence in the state has worsened by the illegal activities going on in the market, We are asking the Enugu state government to embark on it’s demolition without hesitation”.

But in a swift reaction, the Youth leader of Arewa community in Enugu, Alhaji Hamza Buba debunked the allegations as false. He said the allegations are just another way of calling a dog a bad name to hang it.

He said the Hausa community who trade on cattle at the market equally lives with their wives and Children in the same market. Therefore, there is no place they have to habour prostitutes.
According to Arewa Youth leader, it is the indigenes that developed brothels for prostitutes. He disclosed that there was a permanent secretary during Senator Chimaroke administration as governor of the state, who built brothels for harbouring prostitutes in the new artisan market.

He said that when the Hausa community wanted to sanitise the new artisan market, they were accused by the indigenes of attempting to introduce Islamic Sharia law at the market.

Answering question on whether they were illegal occupants on the land, the Arewa Youth leader, Alhaji Hamza said the land on which they developed the New artisan market was officially located to them by Enugu state government in 2004 during ex-governor Chimaroke Nnamani administration.

His words: “The land  was gazetted by Enugu state government during Senator Chimaroke administration in 2004 as a market and residence. There is allegation by indigenes that we are trying to bring sharia law into Enugu state.
“None of us owns a brothel here where the alleged prostitution transpires. But it was a permanent secretary during ex-governor Sullivan administration that built an 18 room charlet, which was later closed down”.

The Arewa Youth leader said they have appealed to Governor Ugwuanyi not to demolish new artisan market because they have no other place to relocate. He disclosed they had initially reached out to some of the state stakeholders on this same matter.