The ongoing demolition of shanties and criminal hideouts across Owerri, led by a Task Force of the Imo State government, is a welcome development long overdue in the state capital.
For years, areas like Ama Hausa, Nekede Old Road, and the notorious New Market axis have been breeding grounds for crime, drug trade, and social vices that made life unbearable for law-abiding residents.
The decisive move by the Uzodimma administration sends a clear message: Owerri will no longer be a safe haven for criminals.
The logic is simple. Shanties and unregulated hideouts are fertile grounds for kidnapping, armed robbery, and violent gangs that terrorize both residents and visitors. Clearing them out is not just about aesthetics or urban renewal — it is about reclaiming the city from the grip of criminals. For once, Owerri residents can breathe a little easier knowing that the state has taken action to dismantle the havens that embolden crime.
Yet, while commending the government for this bold step, it is necessary to highlight the unintended consequences that risk undermining the very success of the exercise. At the New Market area, mechanics — mostly law-abiding, hardworking young men — have been displaced in the sweeping demolitions.
These are not hoodlums or criminals, but skilled workers who earn a living through the sweat of their brow. Their only offence was proximity to crime-prone locations.
The government reportedly directed them to move to Avu in Owerri West Local Government Area. But reports indicate that the so-called Avu mechanic site is not habitable, ill-prepared, and far removed from the central Owerri municipality where their customers are located. If this is true, then the directive is not only unfair but also impractical.
Forcing mechanics into an unviable relocation will destroy livelihoods, cripple small businesses, and create a fresh social problem of jobless youths.
Mechanics are an indispensable part of urban life. Every city in Nigeria has a recognized mechanic hub — Lagos has Ladipo and Berger; Enugu has Coal Camp; Port Harcourt has Mile 3 and Ikoku. But Owerri, astonishingly, has no designated, functional mechanic village.
Instead of scattering them into the wilderness of Avu, the Imo government should take this opportunity to correct a longstanding oversight by providing a proper, accessible, and organized mechanic settlement within proximity of the municipality.
A mechanic village in Owerri will serve multiple purposes: it will decongest traffic from scattered roadside workshops, create a controlled environment for artisans to work, generate internal revenue for government, and help attract investors who need reliable automobile services. To relegate such a crucial workforce to an unsuitable outskirt betrays poor planning and risks turning productive artisans into frustrated idlers.
The Uzodimma administration must not treat mechanics as collateral damage in the fight against crime. The government should separate criminals hiding in shanties from genuine workers trying to make ends meet. By lumping both together under the demolition exercise, the Task Force sends the wrong message that the state cannot distinguish between crime and honest labour. That is a dangerous precedent.
A balanced policy demands that while criminals are flushed out, mechanics and other displaced artisans should be relocated to a properly mapped, serviced, and viable hub close to their customers.
The excuse of “Avu” is simply not good enough. It is the duty of government not only to demolish but also to build; not only to clear but also to provide alternatives.
Development that displaces livelihoods without offering alternatives is incomplete and counterproductive.
Uzodimma’s boldness in tackling crime deserves applause, but his administration must also demonstrate fairness by protecting the livelihoods of skilled workers. Crime thrives when able-bodied men are stripped of opportunities and pushed into frustration.
The mechanics of Owerri deserve better. They are not criminals — they are contributors to the economy. The government must urgently reconsider its relocation plan.
Imo cannot win the war against crime and insecurity while sowing seeds of economic displacement. The demolitions at Ama Hausa, Nekede Old Road, and New Market should mark a new dawn for security, not a dark day for artisans.
Governor Uzodimma must act quickly, balance firmness with fairness, and ensure that in making Owerri safe, he does not make it unlivable for those who toil legitimately to earn a living.
