Abia State Governor Alex Otti on Sunday proffered more insight into happenings at Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umunneochi LGA disclosing that  over 50  dead bodies,  20 decomposing skulls  and countless human skeletons were recovered around the market.


The Abia chief executive made the disclosure during his monthly media chat tagged “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians”, held in Government House, Umuahia. He affirmed that there is no going back on the security measures taken on the Cattle Market, and accused politicians of engineering  the rumour that Northerners were asked to leave the market which he described as blackmail. "In the decomposing skulls we discovered, there was no way to know who is Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba 


"We have taken a principled stand on insecurity, we are single-minded about rooting out insecurity in Abia and we will not support insecurity in the State. Anybody who does not support what we are doing at the Cattle Market must be a criminal"


The governor explained that gadgets would be deployed at strategic places to ensure security of lives and property in the State and asserted  that his administration desires that Abians living outside, return home to enjoy a a pleasant Christmas this year 


Gov  Otti added that the clue to discovering that the Cattle Market was a den of criminals was when it was discovered that most of the ransom being paid to kidnappers were done were done at the market.


He added  that raid on the market was carried out after further investigation discovered that prostitution, narcotics trade and other criminal vices were rampant around the Lokpanta Cattle Market.



He  affirmed that the Cattle Market  which is currently being fenced at enormous cost to government would become a daily and general market with sections for other commodities, while it would open at 6am and close at 6pm.


 

Otti who is took out time to lash out at those attacking his administration in the media said that he would welcome genuine constructive criticisms, but would ignore political jobbers who are attempting to blackmail him in order to be settled with an appointment .


"We would not allow ourselves to be blackmailed, even if you do, it would not work . For those seeking attention from government, our attention is focused on the people - we would not pander to those who criticise any incoming government which will now turn around to offer them jobs, there is no jobs for them", he submitted