Over 50 headless corpses uncovered around Lokpanta cattle market ‘ Gov Otti

No fewer than 50 decomposing headless bodies have been uncovered around Lokpanta Regional Cattle Market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

Gov. Alex Otti who made the shocking revelation during a media parley in Umuahia on Sunday night, regretted that the vicinity of the market had become a den of criminals where all manner of atrocities were committed.

He vowed that there was no going back on the decision of the State Government to eject all residents out of the market and convert it to a day market that closes in the evening and everybody goes home.

The Governor who noted that the ongoing campaign against insecurity in the Umunneochi/Isuikwuato axis was beginning to yield fruits, said that his administration was poised to pay the cost of restoring sanity, peace and order in the region and the entire state.

He vowed that no inch of the state would be allowed to serve as a breeding ground for criminals, adding that anybody still opposed to the Government’s efforts to sanitise the cattle market must be a criminal or an accomplice.

Gov. Otti said that his administration had introduced technology in the fight against insecurity in the state, and vowed to sustain the heat against criminals until total peace and security were restored.

We have installed electronic equipment that tells us what is happening in every part of the state. A few weeks ago, we found that a lot of ransom that was paid for kidnapping ended up somewhere around Umunneochi, and we decided to raid the place. During the raid, we made shocking discoveries.

In less than 48 hours, we recovered over 50 dead bodies around the cattle market in Umunneochi. We recovered over 20 decomposing headless bodies – men, women, children! We recovered so many skeletons of people killed.

We also discovered that gun running, prostitution and so many other things were happening in the market. So, we realised that the first thing to be done is to secure the market. We went in and brought down many brothels, and we felt that the market, just like any other market, should be a day market which starts in the morning and closes in the evening.

Gov. Otti further hinted that part of the measures to boost security in the area was to convert the market to a general-purpose market and to fence it around.

We have started fencing the market even though it will cost a lot of fortunes. We also want to make it a general market not just for cattle alone. There will be sections for provisions, foodstuffs, electronics and others.

We also feel that those people hibernating in the market should go and live in the communities. We want to have a peaceful Christmas where our people will come home and have peaceful movement both around Umunneochi and other parts of the state. Anybody not supporting this move must be a criminal, and there is no place for criminals anymore in Abia.