ONITSHA – Tensions flared violently on Tuesday morning at the Onitsha Main Market following the one-week closure ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Reports indicate that security operatives fired gunshots into the air to disperse a crowd of traders attempting to access the sealed market.
The confrontation is the latest escalation in a government crackdown on the “sit-at-home” order. Governor Soludo had personally visited the market on Monday, January 26, and declared the shutdown after finding the vast majority of shops locked in defiance of the state’s directive. He termed the traders’ compliance with the illegal order “plain economic sabotage”.
A joint task force of police, army, and other security agencies had earlier blocked all major entrances to enforce the closure. However, on Tuesday, frustrated traders gathered, leading to the chaotic scene where security forces reportedly used gunfire to maintain control and prevent entry.
The governor has issued a stern warning that if the market fails to reopen fully next Monday, the closure will be extended for one month. This standoff highlights the deep struggle between state authority and non-state actors over economic life in the South-East, with traders caught in the middle.
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Disclaimer: This report is based on eyewitness accounts of events at the market and official statements. The incident is developing, and details are being confirmed with authorities.
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