Butchers in Umuahia at the weekend protested against plans by Abia State government and its agents to sack them from their abattoir in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.
In their hundreds, the butchers, carrying placards with different inscriptions that reflected their grievances, marched through the streets of Umuahia to the Government House, where they laid down their agitation before the Chief Security Officer to Governor Alex Otti, Mr. Ken Nwosu.
President of the butchers, Ngozi Williams, said, “Some persons, in collaboration with the host community and some government officials, came and sent us out, having fenced some sections of the abattoir, as well as asking us to relocate to Umunneochi.
“We have written to the state government, but have not received any response, instead, the person from inside Government House came and is driving us away. We did not relocate to Ubakala with any land, but the space was given to us by the same state government.
“Instead, a government official has been harassing us with security agencies in the state, particularly with the state government security outfit, Operation Crush.”
They pleaded to be allowed to remain in the area, having been relocated from Umuahia metropolis to their present site many years ago, stating, “The slaughter had been in Umuahia North Local Government Area for long a time before it was relocated to Umuahia South Local Government Area, precisely Mgbarakuma/Amuzu land in Ubakala, Umuahia South council by the then military administration led by Col. Ike Nwosu and the then Minister of Agriculture, Adamu Ciroma in 1994.”
Addressing them, the CSO to the state governor, Nwosu, assured them that having received their petition, the state government will immediately look into the matter.
He informed them however that matters concerning abattoirs and cemeteries, among others belong to the local governments, but that because the Alex Otti-led administration has a human face, he will investigate the matter; commending the protesters for their peaceful disposition in their protest.
When approached, the traditional ruler of Mgarakuma autonomous community, His Royal Highness, Eze Nwaubani, washed off his hands off the alleged plans to sack the butchers.
However, a Special Adviser to Governor Otti, Navy Commander Macdonald Uba, said the state government is only trying to upgrade the hygienic condition of the abattoir by fencing it, providing security gate to the area, providing water as well as providing neat and modern meat slabs, compared with what the butchers have been using in dirty environment.
