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Imo: Protest rocks Owerri over demolition of old Timber Market
Residents of Umuonyima community in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State have staged a protest against the demolition of the Old Timber Market by the state government.
Speaking with Ekwutosblog , the President General of the Community, Christian Anukam, said that they were protesting against inhumane action meted on the community by the state government over the demolition of the ancient timber market in Owerri.
The PG expressed sadness over what he termed impromptu action on the side of the government for not informing occupants of the place ahead of time to enable them safeguard their wares.
“They came and informed us just a day before the demolition with one of the governor’s aides telling us that the instruction was to bring everything down,” Anukam said.
He pointed out that the community supported the APC-led administration of Hope Uzodinma and wondered why the state government decided to treat them in such manner by not allowing tenants trading in the market the opportunity to secure their goods before the demolition.

Anukam maintained that a one-day notice is not enough to enable occupants move their wares out of the area.
One of the community leaders, Paschal Ugwuanyi said they just learnt that Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) officials were coming to demolish the place without properly informing the community.
According to him, the land was released to them since 2007 by the then administration purposely for the market. He stressed that they were surprised at the turn of events.
Another community leader, Prince Mike Ukaegbu, said they were on a peaceful demonstration because the land is the only market where the community and the traders make their daily living.
He pleaded with the state government to give more time to enable occupants secure their goods while looking for alternatives.
Ukaegbu further pleaded on the government to consider their pleas as they are also citizens of the state.
“We are in support of the government of Senator Hope Uzodimma,” he submitted.
Other community leaders who spoke to journalists, including the traditional head of the clan, disclosed that the notice of the demolition was impromptu and pleaded that there should have been an earlier notice before the action.
Recall that the state government, through the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), had said it will commence demolition exercise at the Old Timber Market.
According to the General Manager of OCDA, Frank Nkem, prior to the demolition, a 21-day notice was given to the occupants, which he said the occupants refused to adhere to.
Nkem said that during the last visit to the area, he toured the premises and engaged with the leadership to reiterate the need to comply with the notice to vacate the illegal occupation, which he said has expired.
He said the government is more concerned over how the area has allegedly become a breeding ground for criminal activities, including gun-running, drug peddling and other unlawful practices.
Nkem added that despite the official relocation of traders to the Naze Industrial Market many years ago, that remnant of the traders had remained recalcitrant, refusing to comply with the relocation order.
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Kidnappers Took Loan With My Phone – Victim Recounts Ordeal
A woman has shared a disturbing account of her abduction in Abuja, detailing how kidnappers allegedly exploited her personal information during captivity.
According to her, she was kidnapped while going home in a bus and kept blindfolded for two days as her captors demanded a ransom of ₦5 million from her family and friends.
She further alleged that while she was still in captivity, the abductors accessed her phone and used it to download a loan application.
With her ATM card and identification documents in her possession at the time, they reportedly secured a loan of ₦148,000 without her knowledge.
The victim said she remained unaware of the transaction throughout her ordeal, as she was blindfolded and focused on pleading for her life.
She revealed that when she later found out and wrote to the loan app, they insisted she must pay off the loan.
“I was kidnapped in a bus in Abuja. They blindfolded my eyes for two days. Even after asking for ransom of 5 million from my family and friends, they took a loan. They downloaded a loan app on my phone, and I always carry my ATM card and my ID cards in my bag, so they used it to up the loan app and took a loan of 148 thousand Naira. I didn’t even know about the loan all the time I was there cause I was blindfolded and just begging for my life….” she partly said.
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Man Ends His Marriage After Finding Photographs Of His Wife With Another Man While Browsing Google Maps
A husband was left shocked and reportedly had to end his marriage after discovering photos of his wife with another man while using Google Maps.
The man was using Google Maps to plan a route before setting off on a journey when he noticed an image of his wife sitting on a bench, stroking the hair of another man whose head rested in her lap.
Captured by a Google camera vehicle in Lima, the Peruvian capital, the stunned husband said the photograph grabbed his attention because the woman pictured seemed to be wearing identical clothing to pieces his wife owned.
Although the photo dated back to 2013, the furious husband challenged his wife with proof of her previous betrayal.

The pair, whose identities remain anonymous, subsequently divorced after the woman confessed to having an affair.
In a twist of fate, she was photographed with her lover on a bench near the city’s Puente de los Suspiros de Barranco (Bridge of Sighs of the Ravine).
The husband recently posted the photographs on Facebook where they sparked considerable reaction amongst users.
One social media commenter, San Pateste, said: “What a small world it is… It would have been enough if she said to her husband that she did not love him any more.”
Guillermo Sanchez added: “Out of 100 women, 90 per cent are not loyal, the rest are loyal and only have one eye (hahaha) or are immortal (hahaha).”
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Explosion injures soldier, NSCDC personnel in Imo
An Improvised Explosive Device, IED, explosion injured a soldier and a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
A counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, made this disclosure on X.
Makama disclosed that the incident occurred at about 8:35am on March 18 during a joint operation by troops of 34 Artillery Brigade in the Orsu general area.
According to the source, the personnel were operating around a suspected hideout of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, when they stepped on a concealed pressure-activated IED.
It noted that the device detonated, leaving both operatives injured.
“They were immediately administered first aid and subsequently evacuated to a medical facility for further treatment.
“Operations are ongoing in the area to dismantle criminal hideouts and enhance safety,” the source said.
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