Traders who were victims of the demolition of Eke Ukwu Owerri market by the Imo State Government will now heave a sigh of relief as a Special Committee headed by a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu is set to disburse the N50 Million naria welfare fund donated by business mogul, Leo Stan Ekeh.
Ekeh who runs Zinox Technologies had in the aftermath of the demolition of the Owerri market donated the whopping sum as compensation to verified traders of the market.
The Committee in an advertorial published by an Owerri local newspaper invited some of the traders for verification before they could get funds as compensation for the loss they incurred when the Eke Ukwu Owerri market was destroyed. The traders grouped in lines will appear before the Ejiogu Committee for verification of their claims before receiving any fianacial assistance.
Chief Ekeh and some leaders of Owerri had condemned the demolition of the market and promised to assist victims of the demolition exercise.
Few days after the demolition of the market, some elders had stormed the Ugwu Ekwema Civic Centre, along Egbu Road, Owerri where they invoked the Owerri ancestors to deal with those who demolished the market.
Some prominent Imo State citizens also made willful donations to the traders.
The Imo State government had demolished the ancestral market in line with its Urban Renewal Programme and renamed Douglas road Owerri to immortalize 10 year old Somtochukwu Ibeanusi who was allegedly killed during the demolition of the market.