Government Area and traders at the Millenium Merchants and Importers Association Markets, Main Market, Onitsha.
Trouble started when
Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairman, Lady Ann Chukwuneke, allegedly
stormed the market with over 100 youths to collect revenue from the traders and
at the same time clamp down on street trading in the area. A source said the
council officials started dismantling some of the shops, which did not go down
well with the traders.
This, it was learned,
resulted in a free-for-all between the traders and revenue collectors,
following which over 50 persons sustained injuries. Among those reportedly
injured were the Vice Chairman of the market, Prince Peter Okoye and Obiora
Otigba.The traders began to protest, with placards bearing inscriptions such as
“The council chairman is not a good mother,” “Governor Obiano should remove
her,” “We have lost huge sums of money to hoodlums.
Governor intervenes Reacting
to the development, the President of Anambra State Markets Amalgamation Traders
Association, AMATAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, said the council chairman had
no right to storm the market and destroy the wares of the traders, some of who,
he said, lost huge sums of money to hoodlums. He said: “The governor directed
me to come and calm the traders and to reopen their shops that he is looking
into the crisis. I am happy the governor is aware because he does not want
crisis in the state.
Market’s Chairman reacts Earlier,
the chairman of the market, Mr. Valentine Ezechukwu, and former chairman, Chief
Obiora Nwankwo, described the action of the council boss as uncalled for,
adding that they had earlier discussed with the chairman on the way forward for
the market and wondered why she stormed the market without notice. They said:
“We gave a token to the council, yet they stormed the market demanding N50,000
per shop.”
Three traders, Uche Okolie,
John Achukwu, from Warri and one Joseph claimed to have lost N 2.5 million,
N360,000 and N 100,000, respectively, to the hoodlums. The timely intervention
of the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, saved the situation
from escalating to other markets.
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