Traders at the New Livestock Market, Enugu, have resisted attempts by state government agencies to relocate them from the market.

The traders, who were expected to vacate the market to give way for a new estate planned as part of the new Independence Layout, said on Thursday that it would take the “use of machine guns” by the agencies to relocate them.

“We have invested so much in the market and we cannot afford to lose it,” the Chairmen of the two sections of the market, Mr Kelvin Osita Ani and Alhaji Mohammed Joda, told newsmen.

They also claimed that the Muslims among them built a mosque that cost at least N10 million raised through levies.

The chairmen said it was the government that allocated the land to them after they were moved from the old Artisan Market on Ogui Road.

The traders said the “annoying” aspect of the relocation plan was moving them to where they would not have access to potable water.

“Without water we cannot deal in livestock,” said Joda, who is the Chairman of the Hausa section.

The chairmen said the traders were not prepared to comply with the government’s order to relocate to the new site on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

They claimed that in 2008, a former Commissioner for Lands, Dr Festus Uzo, had invited them over the same issue but they never knew he was serious until officials of the Housing Development Corporation came with a similar directive urging them to move.

“We did not even know that government is serious about our relocation out of the place until some officials of the Ministry of Housing informed us that we have to move, said Osita, who is the Chairman of the Igbo section.

“We will never leave. It will take the killing of all of us with machine guns to leave the market,” Joda said.

Both leaders said the new site offered them was community land and added that the community told them that they could only use the place for just 10 years.

They said the state government had yet to provide an environment that could warrant their relocation.

“Unless they will kill all of us with machine guns, we will never leave this place,” Joda said.

They noted that previous administrations had ordered them to leave the old Artisan Market because of issues they had over water problems.

Reports say that items sold at the market include cows, rams, goats and foodstuffs.

They also operate a local abattoir at the market in addition to the various restaurants there.

Reacting to the stance of the traders, the state Commissioner for Lands, Mr Albert Edoga, said the parcel of land was allocated to them on a temporary basis.

“They have not refused to relocate. When they refuse, we know what to do to get them out,” Edoga said.

He, however, gave assurance that the state government would provide them with the needed infrastructure to facilitate their relocation to the new site.