Traders in Abakaliki building materials, are now counting their losses as Ebonyi State government commenced demolition of the market.
Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 1000 traders of the Abakaliki building materials market were on Monday morning displaced following the demolition of the market.
state government sent in bulldozers to the market, at the wee hours of Monday to demolish structures in the market following the court order to demolish.
Our correspondent reports that the directive was given to the traders by the state government to evacuate the premises and move to their permanent site which is located along Abakaliki – Afikpo Road expired on February 28, 2021.
However, at the expiration of the date, the demolition took, some traders were taken unawares as the new market is yet to be completed.
Traders accused the state government of huge extortion at the exit gates while removing their properties remaining at the market.
When our correspondent visited the scene there was the presence of armed security men who blocked one lane of the road thereby causing heavy traffic in the area while traders were seen rushing into the market to save their goods from being destroyed by bulldozers.