The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has revealed that no fewer than 50 decomposing, headless bodies were uncovered around Lokpanta Regional Cattle Market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state, News About Nigeria reports.
The Governor disclosed this on Sunday night during a media parley in Umuahia and expressed regret that the vicinity of the market had become a den of criminals.
In his words: “A few weeks ago, we found that a lot of ransom 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.”
Otti, therefore, vowed that his administration was not going back on their decision to eject all residents from the market.
According to him, the market will now be a day market where buying and selling is done only during the day and will be closed in the evenings.
The Governor also disclosed that the ongoing campaign against insecurity in the Umunneochi/Isuikwuato axis of the state was beginning to yield results, as safety is gradually returning to the axis.
Speaking on his administration’s resolve to fight insecurity, he promised that they are ready to pay the price to restore sanity, peace, and order in the region and the entire state.
He also revealed that, as part of their fight against insecurity, his administration has introduced the use of technology and will sustain the pressure against criminals until total peace and security are restored in the state.
“We have installed electronic equipment that tells us what is happening in every part of the state,” he revealed.
