Thugs allegedly sent by the Imo State Government, yesterday, stopped the evacuation of the refuse dumped over one month ago along Douglas Road, Owerri, the state capital. The drama started when the member representing Owerri Federal Constituency at the House of Representative, Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi came in to clear the refuse. As the tipper was driving from the dump site, some thugs allegedly sent by the government, intimidated the driver and ordered him out of the tipper and returned the refuse back to Douglas Road.
This show of power triggered anger from the indigenes and non indigenes in the area, including traders from the Ekeukwu market who abandoned their businesses to demand the reason behind the order. Meanwhile, there is tension in the state capital, as those affected by the continued delay in the evacuation of the refuse alleged that since the government could not dispose the refuse, it should not stop individuals who are willing to do it. At the time of filing this report, indigenes of Owerri were strategizing with those doing business in the area to evacuate the refuse by themselves. Sources told Vanguard that the people of Owerri are ever ready to protect themselves from being infected by diseases as a result of the refuse, by ensuring that it must be removed before the next day.
A youth who introduced himself as Obinna said: “We must remove this refuse whether the government likes it or not. We voted for Rochas Okorocha but not to kill us with refuse. Since he cannot do it, let him allow us to do it ourselves.“
vanguard Newspaper
