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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The leadership of the Abia Cattle Market, Lokpanta in Umunneochi Local Government Area have denied the involvement of its members in kidnapping and other heinous crimes.
Governor Alex Otti had during a press briefing on Sunday said security operatives discovered 50 dead bodies and 20 decomposing skulls around the market.
Otti said the discovery was as a result of high criminal activities going on in the market and its environs and ordered that apart from becoming a daily market, it would also be non residential henceforth.
Speaking at Lokpanta, one of the leaders of the traders, Alhaji Buba Abdulahi Kademure said it was not true his members were involved in kidnapping and other heinous crimes.
Kademure equally denied that dead bodies and decomposing skulls were found in the market.
He added, “If they said dead bodies and decomposing skulls were found in and around the market during a raid, we did not see any and who are the relatives of the dead persons?”
Kademure said it would be difficult for the over 15,000 traders and their families living inside the market to relocate to adjoining villages, saying no village in the area would be enough to accommodate them.
He appealed to the Governor to allow them to stay while promising to help in securing the place.
