ENTRACO Speaks On Toronto Urratta Road Fracas …Accuses Residents of Attacking Officials

ENTRACO Speaks On Toronto Urratta Road Fracas

…Accuses Residents of Attacking Officials

A new twist is emerging after last weekend’s breakdown of law and order at the Toronto Urratta Road end of MCC Road, Owerri.

A statement made available by Darlington Ibekwe, who claimed to be spokesperson of the government agency states;

IMO ENTRACO CONDEMNS BRUTAL ATTACK ON ITS OFFICIALS AT TORONTO JUNCTION, OWERRI

The attention of the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) has been drawn to the unfortunate and unwarranted attack on its personnel at Toronto Junction, Owerri, on Thursday, 23rd October, 2025, and Friday, 24th October, 2025, by traders, hired youths, and officers attached to the Toronto Police Division.

ENTRACO wishes to set the record straight and clarify the events surrounding this incident for the general public and the Government of Imo State.

1. On Thursday, 23rd October, 2025, an ENTRACO officer, Mr. Emeka Nwaturuocha, popularly known as “General”, was brutally attacked and assaulted by one Officer Christian, attached to Toronto Police Station, under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Officer Paschal Nwankwo.

The attack was completely unprovoked and occurred while Mr. Nwaturuocha was carrying out his legitimate duty of ensuring that traders did not obstruct public roads or violate environmental regulations.

2. Investigations by ENTRACO have revealed that a certain individual known as ‘Asari’, who oversees trading activities around the Toronto Junction Market, bribed officers of the Toronto Police Division with the sum of ₦300,000 and a monthly settlement promise to offer illegal protection to traders operating along the road.

This illegal alliance was intended to frustrate ENTRACO’s ongoing sanitation and relocation efforts in the area.

3. Prior to this, Mr. Asari had approached the General Manager of ENTRACO, Hon. Anthony Anyaehie, with an offer of ₦4 million to induce the Commission into abandoning its enforcement operations at the Toronto Junction Market. Hon. Anyaehie rejected this offer outright.

After failing to influence the General Manager, Asari approached Mr. Emeka Nwaturuocha, the ENTRACO officer in charge of the MCC/Toronto axis, attempting to bribe him twice—first with ₦500,000, and later ₦1 million, both of which were flatly refused.

4. The Toronto Junction Market had already been legally relocated by the Chairman of Owerri North Local Government Area due to its unsuitability and security risks. The area has become a haven for criminal activities, and even staff of Leo9 Construction Company working on road projects in the area have been robbed multiple times.

The illegal market also poses a serious obstruction to the ongoing internal road expansion and beautification projects of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State.

5. Following the attack on Thursday, ENTRACO operatives returned to the location on Friday, 24th October, 2025, to enforce the government’s relocation directive and restore order. However, the team was again violently attacked by traders and sponsored youths, armed with stones, bottles, locally-made guns, and other weapons.

During this mob action, several ENTRACO personnel were brutalized, including the Director of Operations, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwokedi, who sustained a deep head injury and is currently hospitalized alongside five other staff. One of the injured officers also suffered a broken leg.

ENTRACO strongly condemns the brutalization of its staff and the collusion of security personnel in acts that undermine lawful government operations. The Commission will ensure that all individuals involved in this heinous assault are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

We also urge the general public to disregard misleading online narratives sponsored by certain media agents allegedly contracted and financed by Mr. Asari in a desperate attempt to distort the truth and shift public sympathy.

ENTRACO remains fully committed to the vision of His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, in maintaining a clean, safe, and orderly Imo State, and will not relent in its duties despite intimidation, threats, or bribery attempts.