Traders along the popular Egbu road, Owerri, have decried wanton demolition of their shops by agents of the government in the state.

The traders while counting their losses, expressed regret that their shops had to be demolished despite calls for adequate compensation before the demolition.

C-Advocate however reports that the traders had been notified of the demolition many months before it started.

The state government claimed that the shops were both blocking the drainage and too close to the Owerri – Umuahia expressway, a federal road.

The traders were therefore asked to vacate the property following the planned dualizing of the expressway which is currently underway.

Mrs Ifeoma Okoro, a food vendor whose shop was demolished acknowledged that although there was a prior notice, the shop owners were still discussing compensation terms with government when the actual demolition began.

She added that although the shops were already marked for demolition, no other information had been officially communicated until last Friday when a caterpillar was seen , without prior notice, demolishing the shops.

“Imo state government would have given us one or two months notice before the actual demolition rather than coming without notice just like that and demolishing, making us lose some of our goods and property worth millions of naira.

“I do not think compensation is going to be given to us, following the results of ongoing talks, so it would have been a better option to duly inform us rather than take us unawares” she said .

A community youth leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that when youths of the area tried to intervene to call for due consultations before the actual demolition, they were met with stiff resistance from security agents.

He called on the state government to look into the matter and treat the affected persons with a human face .

“ We understand that the road expansion is in our best interests but the road in question has always been a one lane expressway.

“ In the event that government decides to dualize such a road, adequate compensation arrangements must be made to forestall damage especially in the light of present excruciating economic difficulties.

“ This is a right and we demand it”, he said.