…As Imo govt keep silent
….Police yet to release report
Imo citizens affected by the demolition of shops at Imo International Morden Market Egbeada Ubommiri in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, have cried out over the alleged silence of Imo State Government over the alleged activites of one Emmanuel Ezeanochie, former Chairman of ISAMATA who allegedly collected over N76 million from them for the acquisition of shops at the Imo International Market Egbeada Ubommiri.
It was gathered that the said Ezeanochie allegedly used his position as ISAMATA Chairman put up the shops for sale which made many people pay for the shops at an alleged N4 million and N5 million each.
Some of those affected they were said to have been shocked to see the shops they paid for demolished by the government.
It was equally gathered that Ezeanochie was consequently allegedly arrested by the Imo State government over sale of shops, a reason the affected persons have been expecting the police to come out with the report of the investigation.
“Next thing we heard was that Ezeanochie has been released,” the affected persons hinted
Speaking further, the leader of the group, Mr Uju said,they made frantic efforts to see the IPO in charge of the matter, and were told that the police has submitted the report to Government House. The affected persons hinted that till date, no government official not even the commissioner for Commerce has allegedly said anything about their fate.
“Many of us believed that since ISAMATA is working with the government that we have nothing to fear. That was why many of us paid for those shops. Some bought two, some four shops at N5 million each.
“The silence of the government is killing our spirits. Why are we been treated as third class citizens when we all are bona-fide sons and daughters of Imo State and Nigeria.
“We have made every effort to reach the government but all to no avail.
“We have gone on radio to discuss our plight but all to no avail.
“We are again using this medium to reach out to the government to come to our aid. N77 million is not N7 that one can lose without a fight,” the group lamented.
Meanwhile some of those affected by demolition are said to be sick just as some are said to have relocated to the village since their source of income have been stagnated.
In his reaction, a human right activist and renowned broadcaster, Mazi Chinonso Uba popularly called Nonsonkwa, has called the governor of Imo State Senator Hope Uzodimma, to quickly intervene in the matter which is capable of portraying his administration in bad light.
He called for the immediate release of the police report on the investigation of Ezeanochie and those involved with him.
He wondered why the Imo State Police Command should take orders from Imo Government House before releasing the report it investigated. This according to him, is not in tandem with the Constitution of the Federal Republic and Police Act as Amended .
Uba appealed to the Commissioner of Police to release the report.