Toronto demolitions in Owerri raise concerns about where is home for the Igboman.

The question on the lips of a typical Igboman in Today’s Nigeria seems to be; Where is home for the Igboman in today’s Nigeria? The reason for this question is connected to the fact that the Igboman is presently facing serious harassment and persecution across Nigeria today. In Lagos, their businesses are destroyed by the government with the excuse that the buildings went against the regular rules. In the North, they are faced with the threat of several terror groups and a good number of them has returned home with frustration. It is estimated that 12 million Igbo citizens live in Northern Nigeria according to Umuaka Times investigations. The terror attacks in Northern Nigeria have led to the killings of several Igbomen and women.

In 2025 alone, the following demolitions were carried out in Lagos where the Igbo traders seriously suffered greater losses: On February 14, 2025, a demolition of trading plazas belonging to Igbo businessmen at Ebute Ero Market in Lagos, reportedly carried out by agents of the Lagos State Government. In September 2025, intensified demolitions at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo were carried out where countless Igbo traders conduct their daily commercial activities. High profile Igbomen led by His Excellency Peter Obi paid a visit at the complex to assess the damage.

From 2019 to 2025, over 2,753 Igbo properties, including houses and shops, have been allegedly demolished in Lagos, according to a report by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, with estimated losses of approximately put at 23 trillion Naira. Going back to November 2023, serious concerns were raised by Aloy Ejimakor, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, about the demolition of properties belonging to Igbomen in Lagos State. The fiery lawyer eventually submitted that the exercise was discriminatory and unjust in nature. Umuaka Times gathered that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government to resolve the matter of demolished Igbo properties, warning of “appropriate and lawful measures” if ignored.

Fast forward to Igboland in Imo State precisely, the tragedy of demolitions struck in on Friday, October 24, when ENTRACO and some residents and traders clashed. From a video clip that went viral last week, Umuaka Times gathered that traders at Toronto Street in Owerri had their shops broken into by ENTRACO officials as they allegedly carted away goods worth millions of Naira and eventually demolished the shops.

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

This incident which many considered a mere clash later developed to a big clash where the ENTRACO officials came back the following day and unleashed terror on the street traders and residents.

A local trader who spoke to Umuaka Times disclosed that shops were reportedly vandalized and looted, with alleged theft of phones, motorcycles, bags of rice, gallons of groundnut oil, and other valuable items belonging to traders at Toronto Street.

In retaliation, a heavy fight broke out between the traders and the ENTRACO officials. The Cable newspaper reported that, “Two officials of the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) have been lynched by a mob at the Toronto junction area of Owerri.”

Besides the number of those who lost their lives during the clash, some others were said to have suffered injuries of several degrees as the incident became more brutal. Government officials claimed that they had informed the traders and directed them to move to a designated market and vacate the area to enhance free flow of motor and human traffic in the area. The traders according to ENTRACO, ignored this call.

Granted that the government had given the traders an order to vacate, but as one trader who gave his name simply as Obinna said, “When was the order given? How long will it take us to relocate? And why loot our goods and demolish the remains?”

As it stands now, Umuaka Times investigations show that heavy tension remains high in the area, with rumours circulating about potential reprisal attacks and arrests by ENTRACO. There is a talk in town that ENTRACO operatives have reportedly vowed to enforce the market relocation order at all costs. They have also warned the traders that trading along MCC Uratta Road will no longer be allowed by the state government.

This warning has reportedly sent fear into the minds of the residents and traders in the area. Human rights bodies, individuals and some high profile Igbomen and women last week condemned the actions of ENTRACO in complete terms, describing them as using illegality to enforce legality. For now, the Igboman still feels unsafe even in his own Igbo environment.