TORONTO TRAGEDY: MAZI CHIMA AMADI MEETS TRADERS, DOLES OUT ₦15 Million;

 ... Consoles Odu Family, Donates ₦2 Million

By: Cajetan Duke

In the spirit of the season and reflecting his well-known humanitarian disposition, Mazi Chima Matthew Amadi paid an unscheduled visit to the popular Toronto Market along Uratta/MCC Road. This location had become ground zero for one of the most chaotic confrontations in recent memory when enforcement actions by the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) turned violent on October 23 and 24, 2025. What began as an attempt to enforce an alleged market relocation order quickly escalated into a gross violation of fundamental human rights, with officials displaying crude force that brutalized residents, leaving scores injured and resulting in fatalities.

Addressing a cross-section of traders at a makeshift site, Mazi Amadi expressed heartfelt sympathy to those affected by the demolition exercise. While he maintained that the government has a responsibility to promote environmental compliance and orderliness, he emphasized that such duties must be discharged with the fear of God and utmost respect for human dignity. He insisted that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of the lives and properties of its citizens, describing it as profoundly disappointing when the same government becomes an agent of destruction for the lives and livelihoods of its poor and vulnerable citizens.

Mazi Amadi condemned in its entirety the reckless display of intimidation, harassment, and outright suppression that has become a consistent pattern under the present administration. He urged the people to remain law-abiding and prayerful, assuring them of the dawn of a new era in the state. To help those who lost their wares and business premises—without any government compensation or support—return to business, the Ngor Okpala-born social entrepreneur and philanthropist donated the sum of fifteen million Naira (₦15 million) to the affected traders as a support package. This generous gesture elicited spontaneous ovations of gratitude from the market women and men, symbolizing Amadi’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of the downtrodden.

In a related development, Mazi Amadi visited the family of the late Mr. Chukwudi Odu, popularly known as Tyson, who was brutally killed by suspected ENTRACO agents. The incident left behind his widow, six teenage children, an aged mother, and numerous other relatives. While condoling with the family, Amadi urged the wife to remain strong and to depend on God, who alone can truly comfort the heartbroken.

Expressing deep dismay, Amadi wondered what could justify the killing of an unarmed and helpless citizen by agents of the government. He described the action as regrettable, unfortunate, and utterly despicable. He further encouraged the widow of the deceased to stay strong and prayerful, while presenting a donation of two million Naira (₦2 million) as a business start-up package to support the family and the upkeep of the young children. He promised to make such interventions regular in the future.

Earlier, in his remarks, Mr. Kingsley Odu—the elder brother of the deceased and head of the family—expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the Odu family of Umuchima, Umuoba, Uratta, Owerri North LGA. He thanked Mazi Chima Amadi for his unprecedented magnanimity and for his physical presence in identifying with them during this difficult time. Mr. Odu, however, regretted that since the unfortunate incident, no government officials had visited to console the family or to condemn the provocative killing of their brother.

Speaking on behalf of the Umuobah Development Union, Comrade Okey Ejinkeonye thanked Amadi for his rare display of humanity and love.

The widow of the slain man, Mrs. Gift Odu, who could barely hold back her emotions, also expressed deep gratitude for the support and compassion shown by Mazi Amadi during this period of immense grief and loss.

These acts of kindness by Mazi Chima Matthew Amadi highlight a powerful contrast to the reported state actions, offering immediate relief and hope to victims of the tragedy while underscoring the importance of empathy in leadership and governance.

The Toronto Market incident and its aftermath serve as a somber reminder of the need for a responsible and  responsive  leadership with humane enforcement of laws, accountability, and genuine concern for citizens' welfare, especially during challenging times.