Traders at the Ekeukwu market in Owerri, the Imo State capital are still counting their losses following the demolition of structures at the market by the state government.
Occupants of the city’s biggest market had resumed for business on Saturday, only to be stopped by heavily guarded bulldozers that pulled down their structures.
The state government insists the traders failed to heed to the warnings after they had been informed about the demolition and the planned relocation of the market.
The people, on the other hand, say the action is coming earlier than they had anticipated and have accused the government of not providing an alternative.
The market relocation has been a major issue between the Imo state government and traders of the market as well as some which indigenes of Owerri who see the location of the market as their ancestral home.
The traders rejected this move and have taken the state government to court over this issue.
BY JUDE
