The Umuchieze Garki Cattle Market Dealers have instituted a legal action at Abia State High Court, Nkwagu Umunneochi to halt the state government from demolishing their residential houses in the market.

However, the government has maintained that it is remodeling and upgrading the place to a daily market with social and business-facilitating amenities, and to provide security in and around the market.

Joined in the suit are the state commissioner for Lands, Chaka Chukwumerije; attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna; chairman, Umunneochi local government, Ndubuisi Ike, and the police commissioner.

The 12 plaintiffs/applicants, among whom are the Sarkin Zango, Hussaini Muhammad and the dealers’ spokesman, Buba Kedemure, filed the suit on behalf of residents of the about 20-year old market.

Their prayer is for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, with reference to the chairman and their agents, from demolishing the residences pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

They also want the court to issue an order directing the defendants, particularly the chairman to maintain the status quo as at February 13, 2024 when Umunneochi Town Planning Authority served them notice of demolition.

In a 29-point supporting affidavit deposed to by the spokesman, the plaintiffs said that the demolition would adversely affect them as it would render them homeless.

They related that their application “has become necessary because the third defendant has concluded plan to go on with the demolition in defiance of the pending process before the court.

They also explained that the land on which the market is located was acquired by the state government in 2005 and handed over to them for their relocation from Okigwe in neighbouring Imo State.

It is their contention that when they took possession of the land, the local government “never developed a site plan/design or development plan to guide them on the development of the market.”

The state government, they noted, “knew and ought to know” that by the nature of their business, they do not deal on cattle alone but also on other livestock that “require close monitoring and care” round the clock.

They informed that they opted to live in the market because their business demands that they monitor, cater and care for their stock to minimise mortality and keep them in healthy condition for human consumption.