The executive members of Eleme Market Traders’ Association (ELMATA) in Rivers State have raised an alarm over the worsening insecurity around the market place allegedly caused by some hoodlums popularly known as “Born throw way”.
Speaking with The Tide recently in Nchia, headquarters of Eleme Local Government Area, Chairman of the association, Comrade Charles Chujor Olakanwi stated that the various incriminating activities going on in the front of the market place was becoming worrisome.
He stated that the activities of the so-called ‘Born throw way’ have become a serious menace to the activities of traders at the market and indeed, Eleme as a metropolis. The group leader said, “We don’t have much problem inside the market, rather we are having problems on daily basis at the front in the day time, which metamorphosed into serious security challenge. The activities of these guys have caused the death of many while others are attacked and their belongings taken away. We need the security agencies like the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Army to intervene in this situation as it is beyond our ability”, he stated.
The Chief Security Officer of the market, Bright Ngofa who attested to the activities of the “Born throw way” guys stated that since assumption of office, there had been reduction of crime rate to a negligible percentage but the current wave in the market as at today is alarming, and has remained a problem to them in the market.
According to him, “It was still the activities emanating from these said guys that led to the death of their gang members last two weeks in the market, where one of the group members chased one from their hideouts to the open place and killed him, a situation that caused tension in the market for close to two days.
“We started experiencing their heat last month; though, they don’t come into the market, but it is affecting the market activities, the government should look into it. Their operation is worrisome, just from the hours of 7:30 in the night to 7am.
They are almost forming a confraternity, they live and carry out their criminal activities there. I must say that they have established a settlement there. We beg that the security agencies come to our rescue by raiding the area to chase them away totally”, he said.
A member of the executive, Mrs. Charity Nnamani who also made a similar call on security agencies to look into the matter, said, “I think they have not done enough. I don’t think those guys are bigger or stronger than them that they cannot handle the case”, adding that “It is a dent on the market’s name and Rivers State as a whole.”

Bethel Toby