Hoodlums suspected to be members of a cult group have clashed with goat and cow meat sellers at the popular Nkpor slaughter market in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
National Network gathered that trouble started when the traders refused to pay an illegal levy fondly called “marching ground” fee to the suspected cultists who claimed the levy is their ‘right’.
Our source revealed that police from the Rumuolumeni Divisional Police station at Iwofe arrested one of the hoodlums the day they came to demand for the illegal fee.
The development, we gathered angered the hoodlums who accused the meat dealers of conniving with the Police to effect the arrest of one of their members.
The source further revealed that the hoodlums regrouped and invited other members of their gang outside the community to unleash mayhem on the traders last week Thursday but were repelled by officers from the Police station.
The Vice Chairman of Goat Meat Sellers Association in Mile 3 Market, Nelson Tasie who is also a regular visitor at the Nkpor slaughter market confirmed the development.
He added that the demand of “marching ground” levy is one of the major issues they face in the course of their business.
A Police source also confirmed the incident, adding that the Police are on red alert to forestall further attack on the slaughter by the hoodlums.
It would be recalled that Governor Nyesom Wike had on several occasions warned hoodlums to stop harassing business owners and land developers on issues bordering on “marching ground” levy which is illegal..
Governor Wike while warning hoodlums to desist from asking for “marching ground” levy described it as an illegal levy that can drive away investors from the State.
Governor Wike also urged business owners to report any person or group of persons demanding for such levy to the relevant security agencies in the state.
It would also be recalled that the collection of “marching ground” levy from a particular land developer by two suspected cult groups in Mgbuodohia community, Rumuolumeni in April resulted to a gun battle between the two cult groups that reportedly led to the death of over eight persons while many residents fled their homes.
