Sit-at-home: IPOB tackles Soludo as soldiers enforce market closure

Anambra map

Security operatives, including soldiers and policemen, on Tuesday enforced the one-week closure of the Onitsha Main Market ordered by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, amid sharp condemnation from the Indigenous People of Biafra and protests by traders.

Hundreds of security personnel were deployed to the market as early as 6am, with armoured personnel carriers and Hilux patrol vans positioned at strategic locations to block access and ensure compliance with the closure order.

Governor Soludo had, during an on-the-spot inspection of the market on Monday, ordered the shutdown after traders and market leaders reportedly defied repeated government appeals to resume business on Mondays, despite the sit-at-home directive issued by IPOB.

The state government said the continued sit-at-home had cost Anambra State about N8bn weekly and the South-East region an estimated N19.6bn, disrupting economic and social activities. “The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow this.

“The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens,” Soludo said, warning that the market could remain sealed for up to one month if compliance failed.

Our correspondent observed that joint security teams comprising the police, army and other task forces barricaded the market perimeter, preventing traders who attempted to gain access from entering, while shops remained locked.

Only food vendors and sachet water hawkers were seen operating, as traders gathered in clusters around the market discussing the development.

At some point, the enforcement exercise became tense as traders ran helter-skelter when security operatives moved around the premises, leading to brief confrontations.