By Chinyere Anyanwu
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restated his administration’s determination to eradicate every form of criminality from the Lokpanta cattle market in Umuchieze, Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state.
The governor also expressed worry on the filthy condition of the market and admonished traders on the need to clean up their environment.
Otti said this at the weekend when he paid an unscheduled visit to inspect the ongoing perimeter fencing projects around the cattle market while returning from Enugu.
“I stopped around the abattoir and I found that the place is very dirty. So, we have to ensure that it is clean because it is what people eat.
“If they get contaminated, people will fall sick and you don’t want to sell your cattle, sell your meat and somebody eats it and gets sick. So, you have a responsibility to keep the abattoir and everywhere you are clean,” he said.
He reiterated that the market would become a non-residential place but a trading environment, saying that the state government plans to locate where the traders will live.
Otti, who thanked the traders for their support, said all genuine traders would receive protection and support from his administration, even as he charged the traders to fish out every criminal found around the place.
“Everyone who is doing a legitimate business would be protected by the government. What we don’t want are criminals. You must fish out every criminal because the day they will attack, they may be attacking you. Criminals don’t ask where you come from, what religion or what language you speak,” he told the traders.