Sorrow, Tears, and Blood on Uratta/MCC Road, Owerri as ENTRACO, Residents Clash

It was a bitter weekend for a part of residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital as a clash between a government agency and residents of the area resulted to casualties.

It was blood, tears and sorrow last weekend beginning from Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Toronto axis of MCC Uratta Road, Owerri, following a violent confrontation between staff of Imo State government agency, ENTRACO and local residents which saw many injured with fears of unconfirmed death.

According to information made available to Trumpeta monitored by a correspondence, a fierce battle ensued between the government officials and residents fuelled by the involvement of police operatives in the area.

A source who pleaded anonymity informed our correspondent that the incident began on Thursday last week when an ENTRACO staff allegedly harassed a POS operator, attempting to seize her umbrella and machine for allegedly placing her stand in an unauthorized location.

The lady reportedly resisted, telling him he had no right to confiscate her business tools, especially since it was late and government workers ought to have closed for the day. The young woman warned that she would call her friend if he continued with his threats, a warning the ENTRACO staff ignored.

Unknown to the ENTRACO staff, the said friend was a police officer, who arrived at the scene in mufti and demanded to know what transpired. In a shocking twist, the ENTRACO staff allegedly slapped the officer and threatened to deal with him, prompting the officer to retaliate. This confrontation set off a chain of events that quickly escalated into chaos.

In what appeared to be a revenge mission, ENTRACO operatives reportedly returned the following day, Friday, and unleashed terror on traders and residents around the Toronto axis. Shops were vandalized and looted, with phones, motorcycles, bags of rice, gallons of groundnut oil, and other valuables allegedly carted away.

The situation soon degenerated to a free-for-all as residents and traders from neighboring areas trooped out to confront the ENTRACO team in defense of the victims. What followed was a violent clash that may have claimed lived based on unconfirmed reports.

But Trumpeta learnt that several people were injured after the confrontation as the area turned into a battle front.

Further investigations by Trumpeta revealed that the traders had earlier been directed by authorities to relocate to a government designated market along CCC, Toronto, purportedly meant to reduce road obstruction and ensure the free flow of traffic.

However, those whose shops and properties were destroyed condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric, unjust, and uncalled for, insisting that ENTRACO’s actions went far beyond the bounds of their duty. They are now demanding justice and compensation, calling on the state government to intervene immediately.

Residents of the area have also accused ENTRACO operatives of harassment, intimidation, and looting, alleging that this is not the first time such incidents have occurred in Owerri. They insist that the agency has become a law unto itself, operating with impunity and disregard for human rights.

Meanwhile, information from the grapevine sources suggests that tension remains high, as there are warnings of possible reprisal attacks and arrests. ENTRACO operatives are said to have vowed to enforce the market relocation order by all means, insisting that trading along MCC Uratta Road will no longer be tolerated.

Latest information has it that fear and uncertainty have enveloped the entire area. Business owners and commuters now live in constant anxiety, unsure of what might unfold next.

Residents have reportedly been living in fear of further raids or arrests from the government agents.

When our reporter called at the Owerri North Division office in Toronto, operatives at the entrance gate were unable to allow our correspondent amidst fear of the unknown reigning in the area.