his rescue mission order to redeem Owerri Capital that all artisans
located at the Nekede and Orji Mechanic Villages along with traders at
the Eke-UkwuOwerri as well as those scattered over the streets of
Owerri, must relocate to their new allotted place at the Umuguma/ Avu
area of New Owerri within three weeks or be ready to face government
rash action.
Addressing a joint meeting of the representatives of all the affected
groups at the government house on Tuesday, May 24, the Governor with
anger all over his face indicated that at the end of the expiration
date June 15, he would have no option especially in the case of Orji
Mechanic Village than to imprison them with a round fence with one
gate.
The artisans made up of auto mechanics, electricians, panel beaters,
car spray painters, vulcanizers and other allied technicians numbering
over 2000 at Orji and above 1000 at Nekede Mechanic Villages as well
as recalcitrant traders of the Ekeonuwa market had been given several
notice since 2014 to relocate to a new acquired space in the Avu area
of New Owerri, but had met with resistance.
The attempts has met with stiff opposition and resistance in the past
as the occupants claim that the two villages were created about thirty
years ago in 1980 by authority of the state and the occupants were
duly allotted the plots, which they have developed and expanded with
several infrastructure including schools and churches.