By this hour of filing this report (1:50PM), today, 8 March, 2012, some
people accompanied by soldiers allegedly from the state government Rivers
State stormed Oyigbo, Rivers State, destroying what they claim are illegal
structures and setting them ablaze.
What is amiss is why they should take to the habit of setting people’s
wares and property ablaze having forcefully evicted the victims. Some
residents who do not want their names in print said that the victims who
are mostly petty traders were not given notice to quit the places they
occupied; they were surprisingly attacked by their victimizers.
“Some of us who wanted to take pictures of our victimizers with our cameras
had them seized by the soldiers and they took some persons away,” said the
source.
Others alleged that those whose wares and makeshift shops were burnt were
those who did not pay money (as bribe) to their victimizers, while others
who had paid have their wares saved, though no makeshift shops was spared
along the areas that were affected.
Sunproves attached to shops along Shell Location Road, (coming from Mbano
junction) Oyigbo, were heavily touched. Those that were along the Aba/Port
Harcourt Express Road, Oyigbo, were where the burning took place.
An organization, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV), has
added its voice to the matter, calling on Governor Chibuike Amaechi of
Rivers State to investigate the matter, whether those who took on this
unsocial act were directed to do so, stressing that if they were not
directed to do so, they could be described as those who give bad name to
the Amaechi-led government of Rivers State, whereas the man is putting
tremendous effort to put Rivers State right.
“While we do not support the act of illegal structure, we hereby condemn
the act of setting items seized from the victims ablaze before their eyes
or anywhere else. The act is gruesome MISINTERPRETATION and MISPRESENTATION
of power.” The group said through its coordinator.
However, reactions from well meaning citizens is that effort should be made
to find out whether the state government had issued warning notice with
deadline to the owners of such illegal structures prior to the demolition
exercise. If it did, its act in this regard should NOT attract hostile
criticism. But if it did not, its act is unfair to its people.
Signed:
Odimegwu Onwumere,
Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV).
8th March, 2012.
