The placard carrying traders who spoke through their leader, Mr Ugochukwu Oriaku, condemned the use of men of the Abia Vigilante outfit (Bakassi) by the Market executives to brutalize traders at the market adding that a lot of traders are beaten up on daily basis with some being hospitalized.
He appealed to the state government to come to their aid urgently to save them from further punishment pointing out that they were law abiding citizens hence their recourse to dialogue as a means of settling the issue.
Receiving the protesting traders, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commended them for their maturity and peaceful disposition assuring that they will no longer be intimidated having brought the matter before the state government.
Governor Ikpeazu who spoke through his former Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai said the state government will wade into the matter immediately with a view to resolving the misunderstanding.
He stated that government is against anything that will result to a breach of the peace and implored the traders to go about their normal businesses.
