Residents of Umuonyima community in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State have staged a protest against the demolition of the Old Timber Market by the state government.

Speaking with Ekwutosblog , the President General of the Community, Christian Anukam, said that they were protesting against inhumane action meted on the community by the state government over the demolition of the ancient timber market in Owerri.

The PG expressed sadness over what he termed impromptu action on the side of the government for not informing occupants of the place ahead of time to enable them safeguard their wares.

“They came and informed us just a day before the demolition with one of the governor’s aides telling us that the instruction was to bring everything down,” Anukam said.

He pointed out that the community supported the APC-led administration of Hope Uzodinma and wondered why the state government decided to treat them in such manner by not allowing tenants trading in the market the opportunity to secure their goods before the demolition.

Anukam maintained that a one-day notice is not enough to enable occupants move their wares out of the area.

One of the community leaders, Paschal Ugwuanyi said they just learnt that Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) officials were coming to demolish the place without properly informing the community.

According to him, the land was released to them since 2007 by the then administration purposely for the market. He stressed that they were surprised at the turn of events.

Another community leader, Prince Mike Ukaegbu, said they were on a peaceful demonstration because the land is the only market where the community and the traders make their daily living.

He pleaded with the state government to give more time to enable occupants secure their goods while looking for alternatives.

Ukaegbu further pleaded on the government to consider their pleas as they are also citizens of the state.

“We are in support of the government of Senator Hope Uzodimma,” he submitted.

Other community leaders who spoke to journalists, including the traditional head of the clan, disclosed that the notice of the demolition was impromptu and pleaded that there should have been an earlier notice before the action.

Recall that the state government, through the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), had said it will commence demolition exercise at the Old Timber Market.

According to the General Manager of OCDA, Frank Nkem, prior to the demolition, a 21-day notice was given to the occupants, which he said the occupants refused to adhere to.

Nkem said that during the last visit to the area, he toured the premises and engaged with the leadership to reiterate the need to comply with the notice to vacate the illegal occupation, which he said has expired.

He said the government is more concerned over how the area has allegedly become a breeding ground for criminal activities, including gun-running, drug peddling and other unlawful practices.

Nkem added that despite the official relocation of traders to the Naze Industrial Market many years ago, that remnant of the traders had remained recalcitrant, refusing to comply with the relocation order.

Chai

She was standing by the roadside together with two of her workmates, waiting for the main road to be free so that they can cross to the other side of the road.

Vum, a motorist who was dragging his steering with two policemen, smashed her.

She died on the spot but was confirmed dead when rushed to a hospital.

The motorist riding in a red coloured Toyota Camry fled, immediately, abandoning his vehicle.

The family of 18- year -old Kasarachi Oduoma is mourning now ooo

This has happened to this innocent, budding soul.

This has happened to her poor family ooo.

A young girl sent by her family to learn how to make hairs, so that she will improve the lot of her family has been killed ooo

Chai!

May thus never happen to any of us

Say Amen

Nigeria’s Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has been accused of refusing to pay a businesswoman, Tracynither Nicolas Ohiri, for promotional items she supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign.

The former governor led Ebonyi state for eight years from 2015 to 2023. Prior to that, he was a deputy governor of the state.

In an interview on Friday, Mrs Ohiri alleged that Umahi deliberately withheld the N200 million payment because she rejected his $exual advances.

She claimed that Umahi initially assured her she would be paid after he won the 2014 gubernatorial election. However, she said that when she began demanding her money, he attempted to turn their business relationship into a personal affair.

“When I supplied him with the goods, he told me that he did not have money, but that I should not worry. As soon as he finished contesting for the governorship election and won, he would repay me,” she said.

She alleged that after Umahi became governor, he started avoiding her calls and only engaged with her when she entertained his advances.

“When he won the election and became governor, I started asking him for my money, and he began asking me out,” she stated. “I gave him about a year and eight months before I started asking for my money. So, anytime I asked him for payment, he would say, ‘No problem, I’m going to pay you.’ But then he would bring up the topic he had been discussing with me.”

She further alleged that when she refused his advances, he became angry and stopped responding to her calls.

“When he mentioned it to me twice, he took offence and said, ‘Do you know that since I was born, no woman has said no to me?’ I said I don’t know about that, but I cannot have anything to do with you, sir. I want it to be purely business. The next thing he did was block me.”

Ohiri said that after years of trying to get her money, she has resorted to public protests and social media campaigns to demand payment.

Ohiri, a mother, lamented how Umahi’s alleged refusal to pay her has left her struggling financially while his son enjoys a luxurious lifestyle.

“Give me my money. I am a mother with children. I see your son flying private jets. The money your son is using to fly private jets is enough for you to pay me. You withheld my capital. I am a nursing mother; I need my payment. I have waited enough for nine years.”

Meanwhile, a similar controversy recently involved Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a key politician in Tinubu’s government.

In February 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he made inappropriate advances toward her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on December 8, 2023.

She claimed that Akpabio tacitly demanded sex from her to facilitate the consideration of her motions in the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Senate has suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, citing violations of legislative rules.