Many people were injured while some lost their lives in the alleged ‘war’ between Imo Youths who are fighting against the demolition of the Ekeukwu market, and the demolition squad allegedly dispatched to market by the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
It was gathered that the market leaders had before now, reportedly sued the Governor over plans to demolish the market, a lawsuit they allegedly won. Sources claim that the demolition of the market which is said to be as old as Imo, is against the judgement passed in court.
Meanwhile, A Non-governmental organisation- Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has condemned governor Rochas Okorocha for flouting a subsisting order of an Imo State High Court by forcefully demolishing the Ancient EkeUkwu Market in Owerri leading to many fatalities.
HURIWA said the decision of the Imo State government to proceed with the demolition amounted to the institutionalisation of impunity even as it warned the Imo state governor not to assume that he is bigger than the collective citizens of the State nor is he above the laws as stipulated by the Constitution.
According to Dailypost, HURIWA accused governor Okorocha of illegal use of armed soldiers and mobile policemen to carry out a simple task of stopping possible breach of peace as a consequence of the controversial demolition of the longstanding market in the heart of Owerri city.
The Rights group said the action by the Imo state governor had been stridently opposed by the indigenes of Owerri who kicked against the plot to demolish the market and successfully secured a pending interlocutory Court’s Injunction to halt the demolition but which has been brazenly disrespected by the All Progressives Congress governor.
The Rights group specifically lamented the undue applications of high handedness by the armed security forces who deployed crude and violent tactics that resulted in the gunning down of unarmed protesters including Children young enough to be Governor Okorocha grandchildren.
HURIWA called for the arrest and prosecution of the killer soldiers and police or else the governor would be held personally liable and dragged before the World’s crimes court to face charges of crimes against humanity.
The Rights group said the killings if not investigated and offenders arrested and prosecuted, then it would forward a petition to the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands.
See some of the photos from the demolition scene
