Traders at the Human Face Line, Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State, Saturday, January 15, 2022, went uncontrollably wild in the streets of the commercial city, protesting alleged action of the leadership of the market in collaboration with some agents of the state government, who demolished their shops with the intention to construct new shops and resell to the traders.
The traders, who chanted war songs along the streets of Onitsha, also carried placards bearing different inscriptions such as: "We say no to construction of illegal shops in Onitsha Main Market," "Traders in Onitsha Market say no to intimidation, injustice," "Conscienceless people want to take over our shops by force," "Governor Willie Obiano, please intervene to avoid bloodshed," among others things.
The angry traders, who started the protest at about 5pm, matched through strategic streets in the market, as well as adjoining streets in the commercial city, causing very heavy traffic jam, and making movements very unbearable to road users, up til 8pm.
Some of the traders, Anayo Ekulie, Nwakamma Ruben, and Florence Okpaleke, who spoke on behalf of others, noted that their problem started few weeks ago, when they were approached by the chairman of the market, Mr. Sunday Onyeka, to vacate their shops to give way for demolition and subsequent construction of new shops, or risk being ejected with force.
They added that the chairman returned with tugs on Saturday, January 15, broke forcefully into their shops, and destroyed shops and goods; hence, their decision tell the world what they are passing through.
The traders further begged Governor Obiano to intervene in the crisis in order to avoid further destruction of their properties, breakdown of law and order, and possible bloodshed; adding that Sunday Onyeka's boys have already demolished shops worth hundreds of millions of naira in the said market because of selfish reasons.
Our reporter made efforts to contact chairman of the market, Sunday Onyeka, for his own side of the story; but the reaction did not come as at press time.