A total of 10 building and 30 vehicles have been burnt by hoodlums in the area in Iyiowa Odekpe, a ommunity In Ogbaru Local Government Area Of Anambra State.
The leader of Iyiowa Odekpe Landlords And Residents Association during the protest Dr. Tony Chukwunoso Princewil, who spoke to Ekwe Anaedo shortly after the exercise, informed the government that those behind the attacked are still walking about the streets of their houses for further destructions.
Consequent upon this incident residents in the area stormed the Government House Awka on Wednesday protesting the arson perpetrated by the hoodlums alleging that the leadership of the town is sponsoring the mayhem.
He said a total of 10 storey buildings and 30 vehicles were burnt down by the hoodlums alleged to have been led by the President General of Odekpe community, Barrister Innocent Nwanosike, on 7th November 2023 at about 7am.
He also, added that the hoodlums also inflicted bodily injuries to residents during the attacked.
He said they are in present of the State government house to draw governor attention for immediate action.
According to him, Iyowa is a lay-out owned by Odekpe Community and residents in the lay-out are all strangers; Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas and other ethicities.
“The problem stated when we refused to continue to pay multiple levies to them.
“In the lay-out we have over 10,000 stores and every quarter of the month we are force to pay #10,000 mandatory levies to them. We pay #10,000 every store.
“In fact, we now paying them for anything we do in our houses we build with our owned hard earned money.
“We reported the matter to the police authority and the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Matters, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne for prompt action but up till this moment, no positive response has been made to that effect.
“So we are calling on the state government to help look into the matter and fine away of resolving the issued, the spokesman added.
The protesters expressed their displeasure with various inscriptions such as; Barrow pushers pays tolls in Iyowa, solution please help us, the home of tautism, solution do something, among others.
Chief Of Staff to Gov Chukwuma Soludo Dr Ernest Ezeajughi who spoke on be half of Soludo condemned the incident announcing that the culprits would not be allowed to go free.
The governor ordered that anyone involved in the act be apprehended and brought to book.
Soludo condemned the attacked through his Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi while addressing the people of Iyowa community under the umbrella of Iyowa community Landlords Residents Association in Ogbaru LGA, who were at the government house Awka in protest to seek government intervention on their behalf.
He also, assured the protesters that justice must surely take its course and the government will take the matter seriously to ensure that it is resolved amicably.
“Myself and the state at large strongly condemned the act.
“However, the present administration will not relent it effort in making sure that the vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria is achieved.
“We will continue to encouraged you all, particularly, members of Iyowa community Landlords Residents Association to remain calm and give us time to look into the matter for a peaceful resolution,” Ezeajughi advice.
