Anambra: Heavy Security At Onitsha Market As Traders Decry Closure

THERE was heavy security presence at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Tuesday, January 27, as traders protested against enforcement of the market closure order by the state government for failure to open on Monday, as directed, over the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
While criticising the government’s approach, some traders questioned the fairness of the shutdown, arguing that many business owners who had traveled to bigger markets within the country and abroad had procured goods and were ready to commence sales after the Christmas New Year season, with others saying the directive would increase hardship, as many depend on daily sales to survive.
However, some of them commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for the action, saying compliance with such an order outweighs compliance with an order issued by unknown non-state actors and appealled to the governor to maintain the same level of security next Monday, expressing readiness to resume business.
As early as 7am on Tuesday, policemen, soldiers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed to prevent traders from accessing the shops and to turn back those attempting to access the market.
State Police Command spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the development to ensure law and order, in line with the government’s directive, urging traders to comply with the directives in the interest of public safety, security and economic stability.
Traders later took to the streets in protest against enforcement of the closure, marching through the market area and singing praises of the imprisoned IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.