Hausa Community in Imo Seeks Protection After Demolition of Nekede Cluster Market Shanties
…As Governor’s Aide Says Site Was Criminal Hideout
By Kelechi Ugo
Hausa traders in Imo State have appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to intervene and protect them following the demolition of their settlement at the Nekede Cluster Market by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
The Chairman of the Hausa community in the market, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulsalam, told journalists that the demolition had rendered many of them homeless. He described the development as shocking, insisting that the area had never been used as a hideout for criminal activities as alleged.
“We are not criminals. We engage in lawful business activities and have lived peacefully in this place for years,” Abdulsalam said. “We even maintain a database of everyone living here and monitor their daily activities. The government originally allocated this place to us. Now, our property worth millions of naira has been destroyed.”
He appealed to Governor Uzodimma to urgently intervene and protect their livelihoods, stressing that the Hausa community has maintained a cordial relationship with the State Government.
Another community leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Dangali, speaking via phone, also denied the allegations of criminality in the area.
“There are no bad elements among us. We know ourselves,” Dangali said. “We appeal to the government to come to our aid and possibly provide low-cost housing to accommodate those displaced.”
However, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, defended the operation, stating that it was carried out based on credible intelligence that the location was being used as a haven for suspected criminals.
He maintained that the security and wellbeing of Imo residents remain a top priority for the State Government.
The demolition has generated tension within the Nekede community as affected traders await the government’s response to their appeals.
