By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Tension is building up at Onitsha, the commercial nerve of Anambra State as security operatives fire gunshots to scare away protesting traders attempting to gain access into the closed main market.
Soludo had shut the market on Monday for violating the executive order which ruled out the Monday sit-at-home order proclaimed since 2021 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to press home for release of their detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor had while closing the market insisted that the same measure would be applied to other markets, even as he urged other traders and market stakeholders to disregard the call to economic sabotage of sitting at home on Mondays and resume business as usual.
"To those who continue to aid and abet this economic sabotage, I warn that we will not tolerate it any further. Our government will take all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of lives and property in the state."
Hundreds of youth, on Tuesday, attempted to force their ways into the markets but were stopped by a joint security team comprising the police, military, paramilitary, agunaechemba and others mobilised to maintain law and order.
The protesters took to the streets of Onitsha, reciting solidarity songs for detained Nnamdi Kanu, whom they described as a hero and saviour and queried the governor "Soludo show us the law! Soludo show us the law empowering you to close our market."
But a statement signed by the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, said that the presence of the security at the market was in compliance with the closure and directive of the Anambra State Government.
He said, "In furtherance of this directive, adequate security has been deployed in and around the market, as well as other strategic locations within Onitsha, by the Police in collaboration with other security agencies, to maintain law and order and prevent any breach of public peace.
"Meanwhile, traders gathered around the market in viral videos are situations not beyond the Police and other security agencies but they were addressed and sensitised on the need to cooperate fully with government directives in the interest of public safety, security, and economic stability. "