Some shop owners doing business at the popular Wimpey Junction in Rumuepirikom Community of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State have kicked against the forceful impoundment of their generating sets by the Taskforce on Illegal Markets and Motor Parks right under the supervision of the Chairman, Hon. Bright Amaewhule.
The incidence which took place on Thursday evening saw the traders struggling to wrest the generating sets from officials of the Taskforce while the Chairman’s armed security details watched the scene. At the heat of the scuffle, Hon. Amaewhule was heard barking orders to his boys to take away the generators and move them to the waiting Hilux vans.
The Chairman queried the rationale for using the generators when the traders allegedly signed an agreement never to use them again.
But one of the affected shop owners, who pleaded anonymity, told this medium that the no shop owner signed any agreement with the Taskforce. He alleged that the Taskforce’ action was premised on the claim that the generators illuminated the area and made business conducive for illegal trading.
He said the invasion was coming for the second time as taskforce officials had carted away six generators two weeks ago, and that each of the owners paid N13, 000 to have them released.
National Network reporter who was present at the scene, reports that the incident happened at the area of Wimpey Junction which had become a beehive for street trading. But a clampdown on the traders by the Taskforce and subsequent fencing-off of the area with see-through barbed wire brought a halt to the malady.
It was however gathered that after the Taskforce succeeded in evacuating the traders from the roadside and the area fenced-off, the affected traders moved behind the fenced, in front of some shops, to continue with their business.
Apparently infuriated by this development, the Taskforce was said to have directed that the traders who majorly sold food condiments in the evenings, should leave the area warning that anyone seen trading would be arrested and prosecuted.
This warning by the Taskforce apparently fell on deaf ears as the traders continued with their business.
“They are here for the second time in two weeks to take away our generators. What have we done to the Chairman”, he queried.
He went on: “But rather than explore other means to evacuate the traders, they pounce of our generators which the lame excuse that we provide light for the poor women to trade. How can they say that? They forget that we are legitimate traders and that we need light to do our business in the evenings.
“The generating sets are ours and the Taskforce knows this. We have every right to use our generators because no law forbids us from using it for our business whether in the evening or in the day”.
Efforts to speak with the Chairman, Hon. Bright Amaewhule on the spot failed as he was too busy directing orders to his men. A phone call placed to him later before going to press, could not yield result due to network failures.
