Onitsha traders protest Soludo market closure
Traders in Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State have taken to the streets in large numbers to protest the government’s decision to enforce a one-week closure of the commercial hub following persistent refusal to open for business on Mondays. The protests erupted after Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered the market shut for one week as part of efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home order that many traders continue to observe, defying the state government’s directive to resume normal operations on Mondays.
On Tuesday, hundreds of traders gathered at the entrances to the market and along adjacent streets, carrying placards and shouting slogans against the closure order. Many chanted phrases such as “Soludo, we no go gree,” expressing clear rejection of the government’s action and warning that the shutdown would worsen their already fragile economic conditions. Traders also displayed solidarity with supporters of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), with some protesters singing songs in support of Nnamdi Kanu and holding messages tied to the broader political tensions in the region.
Security operatives, including police and military personnel, were deployed in and around the market to enforce the shutdown and prevent traders from entering the premises. Armoured vehicles and patrol vans were positioned at strategic points to restrict access and ensure the closure was upheld. Traders who attempted to open their shops were turned back, contributing to rising tension as they marched and voiced their anger over the economic impact of the restriction.
Many protesters argued that they were not responsible for the sit-at-home directive and should not be punished through a lockdown that would cut off their livelihoods. They claimed that prolonged closure of the market would deepen poverty and disrupt essential supply chains across the region. The state government maintains that the shutdown is necessary to restore normal economic activity and curb the losses incurred each Monday due to the sit-at-home practice.
The situation remains tense, with traders insisting on dialogue and reconsideration of the closure, while the government warns that continued defiance could lead to extended enforcement measures. All indications point to a continued standoff that will significantly affect economic life in Onitsha in the days ahead.
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