Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has revealed that security operatives discovered 20 decomposing bodies and skeletons during a raid along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
The bodies were discovered in forests around the Lokpanta Cattle Market.
Governor Otti stated this during his second monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital.
Additionally, 50 more bodies were found around the market.
The evidence of ransom payments to suspected kidnappers was traced to this market.
He asserted his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of every citizen and visitor to the state.
He emphasised that no part of the state’s land would be left for criminals.
The Governor said,
“We have taken a stand to provide adequate security to Abia citizens and visitors because no government can succeed in the face of insecurity. This government will not get involved in supporting criminals or allow them to occupy any part of the state.
“When we decided to occupy the Lokpanta cattle market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state, we discovered 50 dead bodies, 20 headless dead bodies, men, women and children and uncountable skeletons. We also discovered that ransoms paid to kidnappers were usually dropped close to the market.
“But it was unfortunate that some people misinterpreted our action to mean that we asked the Northerners trading in the market to leave the state, but after our interactions with leaders of the Northern community, we told them that anyone who is not in support of the moves we are making to secure the state must be a criminal, they saw reasons with us and quickly reversed the quit notice they issued to Igbos in the North.
“That’s why we have decided to make the market a daily market, people can go to the market and do their business and go home at the end of the day. The market will not be only a cattle market again, but it will have other sections for other goods like every other market.
“Those who live inside the market will now live among other people in the state outside the market”
